Predikerens 6
1 Det er ei ulukka som eg hev set under soli, og tung ligg ho på menneskja:
There is also another evil, which I have seen under the sun, and, indeed, it is frequent among men.
2 Når Gud gjev ein mann rikdom og skattar og æra, so han for sin part ikkje vantar noko av det han ynskjer, men Gud ikkje let honom vera kar til å njota godt av det, men ein framand mann fær njota det, so er det fåfengd og ei vond liding.
It is a man to whom God has given wealth, and resources, and honor; and out of all that he desires, nothing is lacking to his life; yet God does not grant him the ability to consume these things, but instead a man who is a stranger will devour them. This is emptiness and a great misfortune.
3 Um ein mann fær hundrad born og liver mange år, so talet vert stort på dagarne i hans liveår, men sjæli hans ikkje vert mett av det gode, og han so ikkje fær nokor jordferd, då segjer eg: Eit ufullbore foster er betre fare enn han.
If a man were to produce one hundred children, and to live for many years, and to attain to an age of many days, and if his soul were to make no use of the goods of his resources, and if he were lacking even a burial: concerning such a man, I declare that a miscarried child is better than he.
4 For til fåfengs kom det, og i myrker gjeng det burt, og i myrker fær det namnet sitt løynt,
For he arrives without a purpose and he continues on into darkness, and his name shall be wiped away, into oblivion.
5 og soli hev det korkje set eller kjent - det hev meir ro enn han.
He has not seen the sun, nor recognized the difference between good and evil.
6 Og um han so livde tusund år tvo gonger, men ikkje fekk njota noko godt - fer ikkje alt til ein stad?
Even if he were to live for two thousand years, and yet not thoroughly enjoy what is good, does not each one hurry on to the same place?
7 All mannsens møda er for munnen hans, og like vel vert hugen aldri nøgd.
Every labor of man is for his mouth, but his soul will not be filled.
8 For kva fyremun hev vismannen framfor dåren? Kva fyremun hev fatigmannen som veit å vandra for augo på dei livande?
What do the wise have which is more than the foolish? And what does the pauper have, except to continue on to that place, where there is life?
9 Betre augnesyn enn ein urolig hugen. Det er fåfengd og jag etter vind.
It is better to see what you desire, than to desire what you cannot know. But this, too, is emptiness and a presumption of spirit.
10 Det som hender, er alt fyrr nemnt med namn, og det er kjent kva ein mann skal verta, og ikkje kann han saksøkja den som er sterkare enn han.
Whoever shall be in the future, his name has already been called. And it is known that he is a man and that he is not able to contend in judgment against one who is stronger than himself.
11 For det finst ein ordrikdom som berre aukar fåfengdi, kva gagn hev mannen av det?
There are many words, and many of these, in disputes, hold much emptiness.
12 For kven veit kva som er godt for mannen i livet, i alle hans fåfengde livedagar som han fer igjenom som ein skugge? Og kven segjer med mannen kva som skal henda under soli etter hans tid?
Why is it necessary for a man to seek things that are greater than himself, when he does not know what is advantageous for himself in his life, during the number of the days of his sojourn, and while time passes by like a shadow? Or who will be able to tell him what will be in the future after him under the sun?
