Ecclesiastes 4
1 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
Fremdeles saa jeg al den Undertrykkelse, som sker under Solen; jeg saa de undertryktes Taarer og ingen trøstede dem; de led Vold af deres Undertrykkeres Haand, og ingen trøstede dem.
2 Therefore I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive.
Da priste jeg de døde, som allerede er døde, lykkeligere end de levende, som endnu er i Live;
3 Yea, better is he than both they, who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that 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 Again, I considered all labour, and every right work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
Og jeg saa, at al Flid og alt dygtigt Arbejde udspringer af den enes Misundelse mod den anden. Ogsaa det er Tomhed og Jag efter Vind.
5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
Daaren lægger Hænderne i Skødet og æder sig selv op.
6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with toil and vexation of spirit.
Bedre en Haandfuld Hvile end Hænderne fulde af Flid og Jag efter Vind.
7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
Og mere Tomhed saa jeg under Solen.
8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a grievous labour.
Mangen staar alene og har ikke nogen ved sin Side, hverken Søn eller Broder, og dog er der ingen Ende paa al hans Flid og hans Øje bliver ikke mæt af Rigdom. Men, for hvis Skyld gør jeg mig Flid og nægter mig enhver Nydelse? Ogsaa det, er Tomhed og ondt Slid.
9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
To er bedre faren end een, thi de faar god Løn for deres Flid;
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his companion: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him to rise.
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 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
Og naar to ligger sammen, bliver de varme; men hvorledes kan den ensomme blive varm?
12 And if one prevaileth against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Og naar nogen kan overvælde den ensomme, saa kan to staa sig imod ham; tretvundet Snor brister ikke i Hast.
13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no longer be admonished.
Bedre faren er en fattig Yngling, som er viis, end en gammel Konge, som er en Taabe og ikke mere har Forstand til at lade sig raade.
14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; though also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.
Thi hin gik ud af Fængselet for at blive Konge, skønt han var født i Fattigdom under den andens Regering.
15 I considered all the living who walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
Jeg saa alle, som levede og færdedes under Solen, stille sig ved den Ynglings Side, som skulde træde i Kongens Sted;
16 There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
der var ikke Tal paa alle de Mennesker, han stod i Spidsen for; men heller ikke over ham glæder de senere Slægter sig; nej, ogsaa det er Tomhed og Jag efter Vind.
