Ecclesiastes 4
1 Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
Fremdeles så jeg al den Undertrykkelse, som sker under Solen; jeg så de undertryktes tårer og ingen trøstede dem; de led Vold af deres Undertrykkeres Hånd, og ingen trøstede dem.
2 Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.
Da priste jeg de døde, som allerede er døde, lykkeligere end de levende, som endnu er i Live;
3 Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
men lykkeligere end begge den, som slet ikke er til, som ikke har set det onde, der sker under Solen.
4 Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Og jeg så, at al Flid og alt dygtigt Arbejde udspringer af den enes Misundelse mod den anden. Også det er Tomhed og Jag efter Vind.
5 The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.
Dåren lægger Hænderne i Skødet og æder sig selv op
6 Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.
Bedre en Håndfuld Hvile end Hænderne fulde af Flid og Jag efter Vind.
7 Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
Og mere Tomhed så jeg under Solen.
8 There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then do I labor and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.
Mangen står alene og har ikke nogen ved sin Side, hverken Søn eller Broder, og dog er der ingen Ende på al hans Flid og hans Øje bliver ikke mæt af Rigdom. Men, for hvis Skyld gør jeg mig Flid og nægter mig enhver Nydelse? Også det, er Tomhed og ondt Slid.
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
To er bedre faren end een, thi de får god Løn for deres Flid;
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift him up.
hvis den ene falder, kan den anden rejse sin Fælle op. Men ve den ensomme! Thi falder han, er der ingen til at rejse ham op.
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone?
Og når to ligger sammen, bliver de varme; men hvorledes kan den ensomme blive varm?
12 If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Og når nogen kan overvælde den ensomme, så kan to stå sig imod ham; tretvundet Snor brister ikke i Hast.
13 Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more.
Bedre faren er en fattig Yngling, som er viis, end en gammel Konge, som er en Tåbe og ikke mere har Forstand til at lade sig råde.
14 For out of prison he came out to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor.
Thi hin gik ud af Fængselet for at blive Konge, skønt han var født i Fattigdom under den andens Regering.
15 I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him.
Jeg så alle, som levede og færdedes under Solen, stille sig ved den Ynglings Side, som skulde træde i Kongens Sted;
16 There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was—yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
der var ikke Tal på alle de Mennesker, han stod i Spidsen for; men heller ikke over ham glæder de senere Slægter sig; nej, også det er Tomhed og Jag efter Vind.
