Ecclesiastes 4
1 And again I saw all the cruel things which are done under the sun; there was the weeping of those who have evil done to them, and they had no comforter: and from the hands of the evil-doers there went out power, but they had no comforter.
Fremdeles så jeg al den Undertrykkelse, som sker under Solen; jeg så de undertryktes tårer og ingen trøstede dem; de led Vold af deres Undertrykkeres Hånd, og ingen trøstede dem.
2 So my praise was for the dead who have gone to their death, more than for the living who still have life.
Da priste jeg de døde, som allerede er døde, lykkeligere end de levende, som endnu er i Live;
3 Yes, happier than the dead or the living seemed he who has not ever been, who has not seen the evil which is done under the sun.
men lykkeligere end begge den, som slet ikke er til, som ikke har set det onde, der sker under Solen.
4 And I saw that the cause of all the work and of everything which is done well was man's envy of his neighbour. This again is to no purpose and a desire for wind.
Og jeg så, at al Flid og alt dygtigt Arbejde udspringer af den enes Misundelse mod den anden. Også det er Tomhed og Jag efter Vind.
5 The foolish man, folding his hands, takes the flesh of his body for food.
Dåren lægger Hænderne i Skødet og æder sig selv op
6 One hand full of rest is better than two hands full of trouble and desire for wind.
Bedre en Håndfuld Hvile end Hænderne fulde af Flid og Jag efter Vind.
7 Then I came back, and I saw an example of what is to no purpose under the sun.
Og mere Tomhed så jeg under Solen.
8 It is one who is by himself, without a second, and without son or brother; but there is no end to all his work, and he has never enough of wealth. For whom, then, am I working and keeping myself from pleasure? This again is to no purpose, and a bitter work.
Mangen står alene og har ikke nogen ved sin Side, hverken Søn eller Broder, og dog er der ingen Ende på al hans Flid og hans Øje bliver ikke mæt af Rigdom. Men, for hvis Skyld gør jeg mig Flid og nægter mig enhver Nydelse? Også det, er Tomhed og ondt Slid.
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their work.
To er bedre faren end een, thi de får god Løn for deres Flid;
10 And if one has a fall, the other will give him a hand; but unhappy is the man who is by himself, because he has no helper.
hvis den ene falder, kan den anden rejse sin Fælle op. Men ve den ensomme! Thi falder han, er der ingen til at rejse ham op.
11 So again, if two are sleeping together they are warm, but how may one be warm by himself?
Og når to ligger sammen, bliver de varme; men hvorledes kan den ensomme blive varm?
12 And two attacked by one would be safe, and three cords twisted together are not quickly broken.
Og når nogen kan overvælde den ensomme, så kan to stå sig imod ham; tretvundet Snor brister ikke i Hast.
13 A young man who is poor and wise is better than a king who is old and foolish and will not be guided by the wisdom of others.
Bedre faren er en fattig Yngling, som er viis, end en gammel Konge, som er en Tåbe og ikke mere har Forstand til at lade sig råde.
14 Because out of a prison the young man comes to be king, though by birth he was only a poor man in the kingdom.
Thi hin gik ud af Fængselet for at blive Konge, skønt han var født i Fattigdom under den andens Regering.
15 I saw all the living under the sun round the young man who was to be ruler in place of the king.
Jeg så alle, som levede og færdedes under Solen, stille sig ved den Ynglings Side, som skulde træde i Kongens Sted;
16 There was no end of all the people, of all those whose head he was, but they who come later will have no delight in him. This again is to no purpose and desire for wind.
der var ikke Tal på alle de Mennesker, han stod i Spidsen for; men heller ikke over ham glæder de senere Slægter sig; nej, også det er Tomhed og Jag efter Vind.
