Книга Екклезиаста 6
1 Есть лукавствие, еже видех под солнцем, и много есть над человеком:
I have observed another evil here on earth, and it has a great impact on humanity.
2 муж, емуже даст Бог богатство и имение и славу, и несть лишаяй души своей от всех, ихже вожделеет, и не даст ему Бог власти от него ясти, яко чуждь муж ясти имать от него. И сие суета и недуг зол есть.
God gives wealth, possessions, and honor to someone. They have everything they want. But God doesn't let them enjoy what they have. Instead somebody else does! This is hard to fathom, and is truly evil.
3 Аще родит муж сто (чад) и лета многа поживет, и мнози будут дние лет его, и душа его не насытится от благостыни, и погребения не бысть ему, рех: благ паче его изверг,
A man could have one hundred children, and grow old, but it wouldn't matter how long his life was if he couldn't enjoy it and at the end receive a decent burial. I would say that a stillborn child would be better off than him.
4 яко в суете прииде и во тму идет, и во тме имя его покрыется:
The way a stillborn child comes into the world and then leaves is painfully hard to understand—arriving and departing in darkness—and who he would have been is never known.
5 и солнца не виде, ниже разуме, покой сему паче того:
He never saw the light of day or knew what it was like to live. Yet the child finds rest, and not this man.
6 и поживе тысящу лет сугубо, и благостыни не виде: еда не во едино место вся идут?
Even if this man were to live a thousand years twice over he still wouldn't be happy. Don't we all end up in the same place—the grave?
7 Весь труд человечь во уста его, и душа его не исполнится.
Everyone works so they can live, but they're never satisfied.
8 Яко кое изюбилие (человеку) мудрому паче безумнаго? Понеже нищь позна ходити противу живота.
So then, what real advantage do wise people have over those who are fools? And do poor people really gain anything in knowing how to behave in front of others?
9 Благо видение очию паче ходящаго душею. И се суетствие и произволение духа.
Be happy with what you have instead of running after what you don't! But this is also hard to do, like running after the wind.
10 Аще что бысть, уже именовася имя его, и познася, еже есть человек и не возможет судитися с крепчайшим паче себе:
Everything that exists has already been described. Everyone knows what people are like, and that you can't win an argument with a superior.
11 яко суть словеса многа умножающая суету.
For the more words you use, the harder it is to make sense. So what's the point?
12 Что излишше человеку, яко кто весть, что благо человеку в животе (его) число дний живота суетства его? И сотвори я в сени: яко кто возвестит человеку, что будет по нем под солнцем?
Who knows what's best for us and our lives? During our short lives that pass like shadows we have many unanswered questions. And who can tell us what will happen when we're gone?
