Ecclesiastes 6
1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy on men:
Der er et Onde, jeg saa under Solen, og som tynger Menneskene haardt:
2 a man to whom God gives riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God gives him no power to eat of it, but a foreigner eats 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 fathers a hundred children, and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not filled with good, and moreover he has no burial; I say, that a stillborn child 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 comes in vanity, and departs in darkness, and its name 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 has not seen the sun nor known it. This has rest rather than the other.
og det har hverken set eller kendt Sol; det faar end ikke en Grav; det hviler bedre end han.
6 Yes, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet fails to enjoy 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 labor 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 has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor man, that knows how to walk 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 sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
Bedre at se med sine Øjne end higende Attraa. Ogsaa det er Tomhed og Jag efter Vind.
10 Whatever has been, its name was given long ago; and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who 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 For there are many words that create vanity. What does that profit man?
Thi jo flere Ord der bruges, des større bliver Tomheden, og hvad gavner de Mennesket?
12 For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spends like a shadow? For who can tell a man what will 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?
