Prædikeren 6
1 Der er et Onde, jeg så under Solen, og som tynger Menneskene hårdt:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is great on men:
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.
[There is many] a man to whom God hath given riches, property, and honor, and nothing is wanting for his soul of all that he longeth for: yet God empowereth him not to eat thereof, but a stranger will consume 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 were to beget a hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years were many, and his soul were not satisfied with what is good, and he have not had even a burial: then do I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.
4 thi at det kommer, er Tomhed, og det går bort i Mørke, og i Mørke dølges dets Navn;
For in vanity it came, and in darkness it departeth, and with darkness will its name be covered.
5 og det har hverken set eller kendt Sol; det får end ikke en Grav; det hviler bedre end han.
Moreover it never saw the sun, and knew nothing: this hath more rest than the other.
6 Om han så levede to Gange tusind År, men ikke skuede Lykke - mon ikke alle farer sammesteds hen?
Yea, though he were to live a thousand years twice told, and had not seen any good— doth not every one go to one place?
7 Al Menneskets Flid tjener hans Mund, og dog stilles hans Sult aldrig.
All the toil of a man is for his mouth; and yet is his desire never 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 hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk [properly] before the living?
9 Bedre at se med sine Øjne end higende Attrå. Også det er Tomhed og Jag efter Vind.
Better is what one seeth with the eyes than the wandering of the desire. Also this is vanity and a torture of the 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.
That which hath been is already called by its name, and it is known that he is a man: and he is not able to contend with him that is mightier than he.
11 Thi jo flere Ord der bruges, des større bliver Tomheden, og hvad gavner de Mennesket?
For there are many things that increase vanity: what advantage [cometh thence] for 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 man in this life, the number of the days of his vain life, that he should spend them as a shadow? for who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?
