Ecclesiastes 3
1 For every thing there is a season; and a [proper] time is for every pursuit under the heavens.
Alt har sin stund og hver en Ting under Himmelen sin Tid:
2 [There is] a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what hath been planted;
Tid til at fødes og Tid til at dø, Tid til at plante og Tid til at rydde,
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
Tid til at dræbe og Tid til at læge, Tid til at nedrive og Tid til at opbygge,
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
Tid til at græde og Tid til at le, Tid til at sørge og Tid til at danse,
5 A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather up stones; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embracing;
Tid til at kaste Sten, og Tid til at sanke Sten, Tid til at favne og Tid til ikke at favne,
6 A time to seek, and a time to let things be lost; a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
Tid til at søge og Tid til at miste, Tid til at gemme og Tid til at bortkaste,
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
Tid til at flænge og Tid til at sy, Tid til at tie og Tid til at tale,
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Tid til at elske og Tid til at hade, Tid til Krig og Tid til Fred.
9 What profit hath [now] he that worketh in that wherein he toileth?
Hvad Løn for sin Flid har da den, der arbejder?
10 I have seen the employment, which God hath given to the sons of men to busy themselves therewith.
Jeg så det Slid, som Gud har givet Menneskens Børn at slide med.
11 Every thing hath he made beautiful in its [proper] time: he hath also placed the eternity in their heart, without a man's being able to find out the work that God hath made from the beginning to the end.
Alt har han skabt smukt til rette Tid; også Evigheden har han lagt i deres Hjerte, dog således at Menneskene hverken fatter det første eller det sidste af, hvad Gud har virket.
12 I know that there is nothing good [inherent] in them, but for every one to rejoice and to do what is good during [all] his life.
Jeg skønnede, at der ikke gives noget andet Gode for dem end at glæde sig og have det godt, sålænge de lever.
13 For also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy what is good for all his toil, is likewise a gift of God.
Dog også det at spise og drikke og nyde det gode under al sin Flid er for hvert Menneske en Guds Gave.
14 I know that whatsoever God doth, that will be for ever; to it nothing can be added, and from it there is nothing to be diminished: and God hath so made it, that men should be afraid of him.
Jeg skønnede, at alt, hvad Gud virker, bliver evindelig, uden at noget kan føjes til eller tages fra; og således har Gud gjort det, for at man skal frygte for hans Åsyn.
15 That which hath been hath long since appeared [again]; and what is to be hath already been; and God seeketh [again] that which is sped away.
Hvad der sker, var allerede, og hvad der skal ske, har allerede været; Gud leder det svundne op.
16 And moreover I have seen under the sun, [that in] the place of justice, even there was wickedness; and [that in] the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness.
Fremdeles så jeg under Solen, at Gudløshed var på Rettens Sted og Gudløshed på Retfærds Sted.
17 I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time for every pursuit; and on account of every deed there [will he judge].
Jeg sagde ved mig selv: "Den retfærdige og den gudløse dømmer Gud; thi for hver en Ting og hver en Idræt har han fastsat en Tid.
18 I said in my heart concerning the speaking of the sons of men, that God might make it clear to them, and that they might see that they by themselves are but beasts.
Jeg sagde ved mig selv: "Det er for Menneskenes Skyld, for at Gud kan prøve dem, og for at de selv kan se, at de er Dyr:"
19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even the same thing befalleth them; as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one kind of spirit: so that the preeminence of man above the beast is nought; for all is vanity.
Thi Menneskers og Dyrs Skæbne er ens; som den ene dør, dør den anden, og en og samme Ånd har de alle; Mennesket har intet forud for Dyrene, thi alt er Tomhed.
20 Every thing goeth unto one place: every thing came from the dust, and every thing returneth to the dust.
Alle går sammesteds hen, alle blev til af Muld, og alle vender tilbage til Mulden.
21 Who knoweth the spirit of the sons of man that ascendeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that descendeth downward to the earth?
Hvo ved, om Menneskenes Ånd stiger opad, og om Dyrenes Ånd farer nedad til Jorden?
22 And so did I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion; for who can bring him to look with pleasure on what will be after him?
Således indså jeg, at intet er bedre for Mennesket end at glæde sig ved sin Gerning, thi det er hans Del; thi hvo kan bringe ham så vidt, at han kan se, hvad der kommer efter hans Død?
