Ecclesiastes 6
1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy upon men:
Der er et Onde, jeg saa under Solen, og som tynger Menneskene haardt:
2 a man to whom God giveth riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it; this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
Naar Gud giver en Mand Rigdom og Gods og Ære, saa han intet savner af, hvad han ønsker, og Gud ikke sætter ham i Stand til at nyde det, men en fremmed nyder det, da er dette Tomhed og en slem Lidelse.
3 If a man beget a hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul have not enough of good, and moreover he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he;
Om en Mand avler hundrede Børn og lever mange Aar, saa hans Levetid bliver lang, men hans Sjæl ikke mættes af Goder, saa siger jeg dog, at et utidigt Foster er bedre faren end han;
4 for it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and the name thereof is covered with darkness;
thi at det kommer, er Tomhed, og det gaar bort i Mørke, og i Mørke dølges dets Navn;
5 moreover it hath not seen the sun nor known it; this hath gratification rather than the other;
og det har hverken set eller kendt Sol; det faar end ikke en Grav; det hviler bedre end han.
6 yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, and enjoy no good; do not all go to one place?
Om han saa levede to Gange tusind Aar, men ikke skuede Lykke — mon ikke alle farer sammesteds hen?
7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
Al Menneskets Flid tjener hans Mund, og dog stilles hans Sult aldrig.
8 For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? or the poor man that hath understanding, in walking before the living?
Thi hvad har den vise forud for Taaben, hvad baader det den arme, der ved at vandre for de levendes Øjne?
9 Better is the seeing of the eyes than the wandering of the desire; this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Bedre at se med sine Øjne end higende Attraa. Ogsaa det er Tomhed og Jag efter Vind.
10 Whatsoever cometh into being, the name thereof was given long ago, and it is foreknown what man is; neither can he contend with Him that is mightier than he.
Hvad der bliver til er for længst nævnet ved Navn, og det vides i Forvejen, hvad et Menneske bliver til; det kan ikke gaa i Rette med ham, der er den stærkeste.
11 Seeing there are many words that increase vanity, what is man the better?
Thi jo flere Ord der bruges, des større bliver Tomheden, og hvad gavner de Mennesket?
12 For who knoweth what is good for man in his life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
Thi hvo ved, hvad der baader et Menneske i Livet, det Tal af tomme Levedage han henlever som en Skygge? Thi hvo kan sige et Menneske, hvad der skal ske under Solen efter hans Død?
