Ecclésiaste 6
1 Il est un autre mal que j'ai vu sous le soleil, et il est fréquent dans l'homme
There is also another evil, which I have seen under the sun, and, indeed, it is frequent among men.
2 c'est un homme à qui Dieu aura donné richesses, possessions, honneurs, dont l'âme n'aura jamais eu un désir qui n'ait été satisfait; mais à qui Dieu n'aura pas donné le pouvoir de manger de ses biens; car un étranger les dévorera. C'est là une vanité et une malheureuse affliction.
It is a man to whom God has given wealth, and resources, and honor; and out of all that he desires, nothing is lacking to his life; yet God does not grant him the ability to consume these things, but instead a man who is a stranger will devour them. This is emptiness and a great misfortune.
3 Et si un homme a eu cent enfants, s'il a vécu beaucoup d'années; quelle qu'ait été la multitude de ses jours, si son âme n'a pas été remplie de ses biens, s'il n'a point de sépulcre, je dis: Un fœtus avorté vaut mieux que lui;
If a man were to produce one hundred children, and to live for many years, and to attain to an age of many days, and if his soul were to make no use of the goods of his resources, and if he were lacking even a burial: concerning such a man, I declare that a miscarried child is better than he.
4 car c'est en vain qu'un fœtus est venu au monde; il s'en va dans l'obscurité, et son nom sera caché dans les ténèbres.
For he arrives without a purpose and he continues on into darkness, and his name shall be wiped away, into oblivion.
5 Il n'a pas même vu le soleil ni connu le repos, non plus que l'autre.
He has not seen the sun, nor recognized the difference between good and evil.
6 Et eût-il vécu mille ans, qu'il n'aurait pas vu la prospérité; toutes choses ne vont-elles pas au même lieu?
Even if he were to live for two thousand years, and yet not thoroughly enjoy what is good, does not each one hurry on to the same place?
7 Tout le labeur de l'homme est pour sa bouche, et encore son âme n'en sera pas rassasiée.
Every labor of man is for his mouth, but his soul will not be filled.
8 Le sage l'emporte sur l'insensé, parce que le pauvre sait marcher en face de la vie.
What do the wise have which is more than the foolish? And what does the pauper have, except to continue on to that place, where there is life?
9 La vision des yeux est bonne; mais cela aussi est vanité et présomption d'esprit.
It is better to see what you desire, than to desire what you cannot know. But this, too, is emptiness and a presumption of spirit.
10 Si quelque chose a été, aussitôt un nom lui a été donné; on sait ce qu'est un homme, et qu'il ne pourra entrer en jugement avec un plus puissant que lui.
Whoever shall be in the future, his name has already been called. And it is known that he is a man and that he is not able to contend in judgment against one who is stronger than himself.
11 Car il est maintes choses qui multiplient la vanité. Quel avantage à l'homme?
There are many words, and many of these, in disputes, hold much emptiness.
12 Qui sait ce qui est bon à l'homme en sa vie, durant le nombre des jours de sa vanité, qu'il a passés dans l'ombre? Qui fera connaître à l'homme ce qui sera après lui sous le soleil?
Why is it necessary for a man to seek things that are greater than himself, when he does not know what is advantageous for himself in his life, during the number of the days of his sojourn, and while time passes by like a shadow? Or who will be able to tell him what will be in the future after him under the sun?
