Ecclesiastes 8
1 The wisdom of a man shineth in his countenance, and the most mighty will change his face.
Hvo er som den vise, og hvo ved at tyde en Ting? Visdom får et Menneskes Åsyn til at lyse, og Åsynets Hårdhed mildnes.
2 I observe the mouth of the king, and the commandments of the oath of God.
Hold en Konges Bud! Men drejer det sig om en Gudsed, så forhast dig ikke.
3 Be not hasty to depart from his face, and do not continue in an evil work: for he will do all that pleaseth him:
Gå bort fra hans Åsyn og bliv ikke stående, når Sagen står slet; thi han kan gøre alt, hvad han vil.
4 And his word is full of power: neither can any man say to him: Why dost thou so?
Thi en Konges Ord er Magtsprog, og hvo kan sige til ham: "Hvad gør du?"
5 He that keepeth the commandments shall find no evil. The heart of a wise man understandeth time and answer.
Den, som holder Budet, skal ikke mærke til noget ondt, og Dommens Tid skal den vises Hjerte kende.
6 There is a time and opportunity for every business, and great affliction for man:
Thi enhver Ting har sin Tid og sin Dom, men det er et tyngende Onde for Mennesket,
7 Because he is ignorant of things past, and things to come he cannot know by any messenger.
at han ikke ved, hvad der vil ske; thi hvo kan sige ham hvorledes Fremtiden bliver?
8 It is not in man’s power to stop the spirit, neither hath he power in the day of death, neither is he suffered to rest when war is at hand, neither shall wickedness save the wicked.
Som intet Menneske er Herre over Vinden, så han kan spærre den inde, er ingen Herre over Dødens Dag; Krig kan man ikke unddrage sig, og Gudløshed frier ikke sin Mand.
9 All these things I have considered, and applied my heart to all the works that are done under the sun. Sometimes one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.
Alt dette så jeg, idet jeg rettede min Tanke på hver en Idræt, som øves under Solen: Der er Tider, da det ene Menneske hersker over det andet til hans Ulykke.
10 I saw the wicked buried: who also when they were yet living were in the holy place, and were praised in the city as men of just works: but this also is vanity.
Ligeledes så jeg gudløse stedes til Hvile, medens de, som gjorde det rette, måtte gå bort fra det hellige Sted og glemtes i Byen. Også det er Tomhed.
11 For because sentence is not speedily pronounced against the evil, the children of men commit evils without any fear.
Fordi den onde Gerning ikke i Hast rammes af Dommen får Menneskenes Hjerte Mod til at gøre det onde,
12 But though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and by patience be borne withal, I know from thence that it shall be well with them that fear God, who dread his face.
eftersom Synderen gør det onde fra første Færd og dog lever længe; men også ved jeg, at det skal gå dem godt, som frygter Gud, fordi de frygter for hans Åsyn,
13 But let it not be well with the wicked, neither let his days be prolonged, but as a shadow let them pass away that fear not the face of the Lord.
og at det ikke skal gå de gudløse godt, og at deres Levetid ikke skal længes som Skyggen, fordi de ikke frygter for Guds Åsyn.
14 There is also another vanity, which is done upon the earth. There are just men to whom evils happen, as though they had done the works of the wicked: and there are wicked men, who are as secure, as though they had the deeds of the just: but this also I judge most vain.
Der er en Tomhed, som forekommer på Jorden: at der findes retfærdige, hvem det går, som om de havde gjort de gudløses Gerninger, og gudløse, hvem det går som om de havde gjort de retfærdiges Gerninger. Jeg sagde: Også det er Tomhed.
15 Therefore I commended mirth, because there was no good for a man under the sun, but to eat, and drink, and be merry, and that he should take nothing else with him of his labour in the days of his life, which God hath given him under the sun.
Og jeg priste Glæden, fordi Mennesket ikke har andet Gode under Solen end at spise og drikke og være glad, og at dette ledsager ham under hans Flid i de Levedage, Gud giver ham under Solen.
16 And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to understand the distraction that is upon earth: for there are some that day and night take no sleep with their eyes.
Hver Gang jeg vendte min Hu til at nemme Visdom og granske det Slid, som går for sig på Jorden - thi hverken Dag eller Nat får man Søvn i Øjnene -
17 And I understood that man can find no reason of all those works of God that are done under the sun: and the more he shall labour to seek, so much the less shall he find: yea, though the wise man shall say, that he knoweth it, he shall not be able to find it.
da indså jeg, at det er således med alt Guds Værk, at Mennesket ikke kan udgrunde det, som sker under Solen; thi trods al den Flid, et Menneske gør sig med at søge, kan han ikke udgrunde det; og selv om den vise mener at kende det, kan han ikke udgrunde det.
