Ecclesiastes 4
1 But I returned and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun; and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power, but they had no comforter.
Og jeg vendte tilbage og saa alle de undertrykte, som ilde medhandles under Solen; og se, de undertryktes Taarer, og der var ingen, som trøstede dem, og fra deres Undertrykkeres Haand udgik Vold; derimod havde de ingen, som trøstede dem.
2 Wherefore I praised the dead that are already dead more than the living that are yet alive;
Da prisede jeg de døde, som alt vare døde, fremfor de levende, som endnu ere i Live;
3 but better than they both is he that hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
men lykkelig fremfor begge dog den, som endnu ikke har været til, som ikke har set den onde Gerning, der gøres under Solen.
4 Again, I considered all labour and all excelling in work, that it is a man's rivalry with his neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Og jeg saa alt Arbejde og al Dygtighed i Gerningen, at det paadrog en Mand Misundelse af hans Næste; ogsaa dette er Forfængelighed og Aandsfortærelse.
5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
Daaren lægger sine Hænder sammen og fortærer sit eget Kød.
6 Better is a handful of quietness, than both the hands full of labour and striving after wind.
En Haandfuld med Ro er bedre end begge Næver fulde med Møje og Aandsfortærelse.
7 Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
Og jeg vendte tilbage og saa Forfængelighed under Solen:
8 There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labour, neither is his eye satisfied with riches: 'for whom then do I labour, and bereave my soul of pleasure?' This also is vanity, yea, it is a grievous business.
Der er den, som er ene og ikke har nogen anden og har hverken Søn eller Broder; dog er der ingen Ende paa alt hans Arbejde, og hans Øjne mættes ikke af Rigdom; — og: „For hvem arbejder jeg og lader min Sjæl fattes det gode”? ogsaa dette er Forfængelighed og en slem Møje.
9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
Bedre to end een; thi de have en god Løn for deres Arbejde.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up.
Thi dersom de falde, kan den ene oprejse sin Stalbroder, men ve den, som er ene; naar han falder, er der ingen anden til at oprejse ham.
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone?
Ogsaa naar to ligge sammen, da have de Varme; men hvorledes kan en alene blive varm?
12 And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Og om nogen vilde overvælde ham, som er ene, kunde to staa ham imod; og den tredobbelte Traad sønderrives ikke saa snart.
13 Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.
Bedre faren er et ungt Menneske, som er viist, end en gammel Konge, som er en Daare, og som endnu ikke ved at lade sig advare.
14 For out of prison he came forth to be king; although in his kingdom he was born poor.
Thi af Fangehuset udgik hin for at blive Konge, medens den, som var født i sit Kongerige, blev fattig.
15 I saw all the living that walk under the sun, that they were with the child, the second, that was to stand up in his stead.
Jeg saa alle dem, som leve, som vandre under Solen, at holde sig til det andet unge Menneske, der indtager hans Sted.
16 There was no end of all the people, even of all them whom he did lead; yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Der var ikke Ende paa alt det Folk, paa alt det, som han gik i Spidsen for, dog skulle Efterkommerne ikke glædes over ham: Thi ogsaa dette er Forfængelighed og Aandsfortærelse.
