Prædikeren 6

1 Der er et Onde, jeg så under Solen, og som tynger Menneskene hårdt:

There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it [is] great on man:

2 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.

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.

3 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;

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.'

4 thi at det kommer, er Tomhed, og det går bort i Mørke, og i Mørke dølges dets Navn;

For in vanity he came in, and in darkness he goeth, and in darkness his name is covered,

5 og det har hverken set eller kendt Sol; det får end ikke en Grav; det hviler bedre end han.

Even the sun he hath not seen nor known, more rest hath this than that.

6 Om han så levede to Gange tusind År, men ikke skuede Lykke - mon ikke alle farer sammesteds hen?

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?

7 Al Menneskets Flid tjener hans Mund, og dog stilles hans Sult aldrig.

All the labour of man [is] for his mouth, and yet the soul is not filled.

8 Thi hvad har den vise forud for Tåben, hvad båder det den arme, der ved at vandre for de levendes Øjne?

For what advantage [is] to the wise above the fool? What to the poor who knoweth to walk before the living?

9 Bedre at se med sine Øjne end higende Attrå. Også det er Tomhed og Jag efter Vind.

Better [is] the sight of the eyes than the going of the soul. This also [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.

10 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.

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.

11 Thi jo flere Ord der bruges, des større bliver Tomheden, og hvad gavner de Mennesket?

For there are many things multiplying vanity; what advantage [is] to man?

12 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?

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?