Ecclesiastes 6
1 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it [is] great on man:
Der er et Onde, jeg så under Solen, og som tynger Menneskene hårdt:
2 A man to whom God giveth wealth, and riches, and honour, and there is no lack to his soul of all that he desireth, and God giveth him not power to eat of it, but a stranger eateth it; this [is] vanity, and it [is] an evil disease.
Når Gud giver en Mand Rigdom og Gods og Ære, så 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 doth beget a hundred, and live many years, and is great, because they are the days of his years, and his soul is not satisfied from the goodness, and also he hath not had a grave, I have said, 'Better than he [is] the untimely birth.'
Om en Mand avler hundrede Børn og lever mange År, så hans Levetid bliver lang, men hans Sjæl ikke mættes af Goder, så siger jeg dog, at et utidigt Foster er bedre faren end han;
4 For in vanity he came in, and in darkness he goeth, and in darkness his name is covered,
thi at det kommer, er Tomhed, og det går bort i Mørke, og i Mørke dølges dets Navn;
5 Even the sun he hath not seen nor known, more rest hath this than that.
og det har hverken set eller kendt Sol; det får end ikke en Grav; det hviler bedre end han.
6 And though he had lived a thousand years twice over, yet good he hath not seen; to the same place doth not every one go?
Om han så levede to Gange tusind År, men ikke skuede Lykke - mon ikke alle farer sammesteds hen?
7 All the labour of man [is] for his mouth, and yet the soul is not filled.
Al Menneskets Flid tjener hans Mund, og dog stilles hans Sult aldrig.
8 For what advantage [is] to the wise above the fool? What to the poor who knoweth to walk before the living?
Thi hvad har den vise forud for Tåben, hvad båder det den arme, der ved at vandre for de levendes Øjne?
9 Better [is] the sight of the eyes than the going of the soul. This also [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.
Bedre at se med sine Øjne end higende Attrå. Også det er Tomhed og Jag efter Vind.
10 What [is] that which hath been? already is its name called, and it is known that it [is] man, and he is not able to contend with him who is stronger 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 gå i Rette med ham, der er den stærkeste.
11 For there are many things multiplying vanity; what advantage [is] to man?
Thi jo flere Ord der bruges, des større bliver Tomheden, og hvad gavner de Mennesket?
12 For who knoweth what [is] good for a man in life, the number of the days of the life of his vanity, and he maketh them as a shadow? for who declareth to man what is after him under the sun?
Thi hvo ved, hvad der båder 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?
