Ecclesiastes 1
1 The words of Ecclesiastes, the son of David, the king of Jerusalem.
Ord af Prædikeren, Davids Søn, Kongen i Jerusalem.
2 Ecclesiastes said: Vanity of vanities! Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity!
Forfængeligheders Forfængelighed! sagde Prædikeren, Forfængeligheders Forfængelighed, alt sammen Forfængelighed.
3 What more does a man have from all his labor, as he labors under the sun?
Hvad Fordel har Mennesket af al sin Møje, som han plager sig med under Solen?
4 A generation passes away, and a generation arrives. But the earth stands forever.
En Slægt gaar, og en Slægt kommer; men Jorden staar evindelig.
5 The sun rises and sets; it returns to its place, and from there, being born again,
Og Solen gaar op, og Solen gaar ned, og den higer hen til sit Sted, hvor den gaar op.
6 it circles through the south, and arcs toward the north. The spirit continues on, illuminating everything in its circuit, and turning again in its cycle.
Vinden gaar imod Sønden og drejer sig om imod Norden; den gaar frem, idet den vedbliver at dreje sig om, og til sine Kredse kommer Vinden tilbage.
7 All rivers enter into the sea, and the sea does not overflow. To the place from which the rivers go out, they return, so that they may flow again.
Alle Bække løbe i Havet, og Havet bliver ikke fuldt; til det Sted, fra hvilket Floderne løbe, derhen komme de tilbage for at løbe.
8 Such things are difficult; man is not able to explain them with words. The eye is not satisfied by seeing, nor is the ear fulfilled by hearing.
Alt hvad man kunde nævne herom, vilde blive mat, ingen kunde udsige det; Øjet mættes ej af at se, og Øret fyldes ej af at høre.
9 What is it that has existed? The same shall exist in the future. What is it that has been done? The same shall continue to be done.
Hvad som var, det samme skal vorde, og hvad som er sket, det samme skal ske; og der er slet intet nyt under Solen.
10 There is nothing new under the sun. Neither is anyone able to say: “Behold, this is new!” For it has already been brought forth in the ages that were before us.
Er der noget, om hvilket man kan sige: Se, dette er nyt? Det var allerede i de forrige Tider, som have været før os.
11 There is no remembrance of the former things. Indeed, neither shall there be any record of past things in the future, for those who will exist at the very end.
Der er ingen Ihukommelse om de tidligere; og om de efterfølgende, som skulle komme, om dem skal der heller ikke være nogen Ihukommelse hos dem, som skulle være herefter.
12 I, Ecclesiastes, was king of Israel at Jerusalem.
Jeg, Prædikeren, jeg var Konge over Israel i Jerusalem.
13 And I was determined in my mind to seek and to investigate wisely, concerning all that is done under the sun. God has given this very difficult task to the sons of men, so that they may be occupied by it.
Og jeg gav mit Hjerte hen til at ransage og til med Visdom at udforske alt det, som sker under Himmelen; det er en slem Plage, som Gud har givet Menneskens Børn at plage sig med.
14 I have seen all that is done under the sun, and behold: all is emptiness and an affliction of the spirit.
Jeg saa alle de Gerninger, som ere gjorte under Solen, og se, det var alt Forfængelighed og Aandsfortærelse.
15 The perverse are unwilling to be corrected, and the number of the foolish is boundless.
Kroget kan ikke vorde ret, og Brøst kunne ikke tælles.
16 I have spoken in my heart, saying: “Behold, I have achieved greatness, and I have surpassed all the wise who were before me in Jerusalem.” And my mind has contemplated many things wisely, and I have learned.
Jeg talte med mit Hjerte og sagde: Jeg, se, jeg er bleven stor og er gaaet frem i Visdom mere end alle de, som have været før mig i Jerusalem; og mit Hjerte har set megen Visdom og Kundskab.
17 And I have dedicated my heart, so that I may know prudence and doctrine, and also error and foolishness. Yet I recognize that, in these things also, there is hardship, and affliction of the spirit.
Og jeg gav mit Hjerte hen til at forstaa Visdom og til at forstaa Galskab og Daarskab; jeg fornam, at ogsaa dette var Aandsfortærelse.
18 Because of this, with much wisdom there is also much anger. And whoever adds knowledge, also adds hardship.
Thi hvor megen Visdom er, der er megen Græmmelse; og den, som forøger sin Kundskab, forøger sin Smerte.
