Prædikeren 12
1 Tænk På ding Skaber i Ungdommens Dage, førend de onde Dage kommer og Årene nærmer sig, om hvilke du vil sige: "I dem har jeg ikke Behag!"
Let your mind be turned to your Maker in the days of your strength, while the evil days come not, and the years are far away when you will say, I have no pleasure in them;
2 før Sol og Lys og Måne og Stjerner hylles i Mørke og der atter kommer Skyer efter Regn,
While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, are not dark, and the clouds come not back after the rain;
3 Tiden, da Husets Vogtere bæver, de stærke Mænd bliver krumme, da Møllepigerne svigter, fordi de er få, og de bliver mørke, som kigger ved Gluggerne,
In the day when the keepers of the house are shaking for fear, and the strong men are bent down, and the women who were crushing the grain are at rest because their number is small, and those looking out of the windows are unable to see;
4 da begge Gadedørene lukkes, mens Møllen går med dæmpet Lyd, da man står op ved Spurvenes Kvidder og alle Sangens Døtre hvisker,
When the doors are shut in the street, and the sound of the crushing is low, and the voice of the bird is soft, and the daughters of music will be made low;
5 da man også ængstes for Bakker, og Rædsler lurer på Vejen, da Mandeltræet blomstrer; Græshoppen slappes og Kapersbærret svigter, nu Mennesket går til sin evige Bolig og Sørgetoget går gennem Gaden,
And he is in fear of that which is high, and danger is in the road, and the tree is white with flower, and the least thing is a weight, and desire is at an end, because man goes to his last resting-place, and those who are sorrowing are in the streets;
6 førend Sølvsnoren brister og Guldskålen brydes itu, før Krukken slås i Stykker ved Kilden og det søndrede Hjul falder ned i Brønden
Before ever the silver cord is cut, or the vessel of gold is broken, or the pot is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the water-hole;
7 og Støvet vender tilbage til Jorden som før og Ånden til Gud, som gav den.
And the dust goes back to the earth as it was, and the spirit goes back to God who gave it.
8 Endeløs Tomhed, sagde Prædikeren, alt er Tomhed.
All things are to no purpose, says the Preacher, all is to no purpose.
9 Endnu skal siges, at Prædikeren var viis; han gav også Folket Kundskab; han granskede og ransagede og formede mange Ordsprog.
And because the Preacher was wise he still gave the people knowledge; searching out, testing, and putting in order a great number of wise sayings.
10 Prædikeren søgte at finde Fyndord og optegnede sanddru Lære, Sandhedsord.
The Preacher made search for words which were pleasing, but his writing was in words upright and true.
11 Som Pigkæppe er de vises Ord, som inddrevne Søm, der sidder tæt; de er givet af en og samme Hyrde.
The words of the wise are pointed, and sayings grouped together are like nails fixed with a hammer; they are given by one guide.
12 Endnu skal siges: Min Søn, var dig! Der er ingen Ende på, som der skrives Bøger, og megen Gransken trætter Legemet.
And further, my son, take note of this: of the making of books there is no end, and much learning is a weariness to the flesh.
13 Enden på Sagen, når alt er hørt, er: Frygt Gud og hold hans Bud! Thi det bør hvert Menneske gøre.
This is the last word. All has been said. Have fear of God and keep his laws; because this is right for every man.
14 Thi hver en Gerning bringer Gud for Retten, når han dømmer alt, hvad der er skjult, være sig godt eller ondt.
God will be judge of every work, with every secret thing, good or evil.
