Ecclesiastes 6

There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:

Der er et Onde, jeg så under Solen, og som tynger Menneskene hårdt:

A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

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.

If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.

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;

For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.

thi at det kommer, er Tomhed, og det går bort i Mørke, og i Mørke dølges dets Navn;

Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.

og det har hverken set eller kendt Sol; det får end ikke en Grav; det hviler bedre end han.

Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?

Om han så levede to Gange tusind År, men ikke skuede Lykke - mon ikke alle farer sammesteds hen?

All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

Al Menneskets Flid tjener hans Mund, og dog stilles hans Sult aldrig.

For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?

Thi hvad har den vise forud for Tåben, hvad båder det den arme, der ved at vandre for de levendes Øjne?

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

Bedre at se med sine Øjne end higende Attrå. Også det er Tomhed og Jag efter Vind.

That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.

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.

Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?

Thi jo flere Ord der bruges, des større bliver Tomheden, og hvad gavner de Mennesket?

For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

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?