Ecclesiastes 1
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
Ord af Prædikeren, Davids Søn, Konge i Jerusalem.
2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
Endeløs Tomhed, sagde Prædikeren, endeløs Tomhed, alt er Tomhed!
3 What does man gain from all his labour in which he labours under the sun?
Hvad Vinding har Mennesket af al den Flid, han gør sig under Solen?
4 One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.
Slægt gaar, og Slægt kommer, men Jorden staar til evig Tid.
5 The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises.
Sol staar op, og Sol gaar ned og haster igen til sin Opgangs Sted.
6 The wind goes towards the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses.
Vinden gaar mod Syd og drejer mod Nord, den drejer atter og atter og vender tilbage til samme Kredsløb.
7 All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again.
Alle Bække løber i Havet, men Havet bliver ikke fuldt; det Sted, til hvilket Bækkene løber, did bliver de ved at løbe.
8 All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
Alting slider sig træt; Mand hører ikke op med at tale, Øjet bliver ikke mæt af at se, Øret ej fuldt af at høre.
9 That which has been is that which shall be, and that which has been done is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun.
Det, der kommer, er det, der var, det, der sker, er det, der skete; der er slet intet nyt under Solen.
10 Is there a thing of which it may be said, “Behold, this is new”? It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us.
Kommer der noget, om hvilket man siger: »Se, her er da noget nyt!« det har dog for længst været til i Tiderne forud for os.
11 There is no memory of the former; neither shall there be any memory of the latter that are to come, amongst those that shall come after.
Ej mindes de svundne Slægter, og de ny, som kommer engang, skal ej heller mindes af dem, som kommer senere hen.
12 I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
Jeg, Prædikeren, var Konge over Israel i Jerusalem.
13 I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.
Jeg vendte min Hu til at ransage og med Visdom udgranske alt, hvad der sker under Himmelen; det er et ondt Slid, som Gud har givet Menneskens Børn at slide med.
14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
Jeg saa alt, hvad der sker under Solen, og se, det er alt sammen Tomhed og Jag efter Vind.
15 That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.
Kroget kan ej blive lige, og halvt kan ej blive helt.
16 I said to myself, “Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”
Jeg tænkte ved mig selv: »Se, jeg har vundet større og rigere Visdom end alle de, der før mig var over Jerusalem, og mit Hjerte har skuet Visdom og Kundskab i Fylde.«
17 I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.
Jeg vendte min Hu til at fatte, hvad der er Visdom og Kundskab, og hvad der er Daarskab og Taabelighed; jeg skønnede, at ogsaa det er Jag efter Vind.
18 For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
Thi megen Visdom megen Græmmelse, øget Kundskab øget Smerte.
