1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. 3What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
4One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. 5The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.1.5 hasteth: Heb. panteth 6The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. 7All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.1.7 return…: Heb. return to go 8All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 10Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. 11There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
12¶ I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.1.13 to be…: or, to afflict them 14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 15That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.1.15 that which is wanting: Heb. defect 16I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.1.16 had…: Heb. had seen much 17And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. 18For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
Livet synes uden mening
1Denne bog er af Prædikeren, som var søn af David og konge i Jerusalem.
2Der er ingen mening, livet er uden mening.
Det hele er meningsløst.
3Hvad får man ud af al sin møje?
Alt det, man her i livet må døje?
4Generationer kommer og går,
men verden kører videre og består.
5Solen står op, og solen går ned
dag efter dag i uendelighed.
6Vinden blæser mod syd og skifter om i nord,
det hele kører rundt, men ændrer ikke spor.
7Floder hælder vand i havet uden stop,
alligevel bliver havet aldrig fyldt op.
Vandet fordamper og kommer tilbage til floden,
sådan kører det bare rundt på hele kloden.
8Alting er så kedsommeligt,
fordi det er så forudsigeligt.
Det er altid det samme, man ser,
altid det samme, man hører.
9Hvad der før er sket, vil ske igen,
Hvad der før er gjort, vil blive gjort igen.
Der er intet nyt under solen.
10Der er intet nyt, der kommer op i nutiden,
som ikke også er sket i fortiden.
11De gamles heltemod huskes ikke mere,
i fremtiden vil nutiden ikke eksistere.
Menneskelig visdom kommer til kort
12Jeg, Prædikeren, var konge over Israel og boede i Jerusalem. 13Jeg besluttede mig for grundigt at udforske alt, hvad der foregår på jorden, og jeg kom til det resultat, at det er et træls og slidsomt liv, Gud har givet menneskene.
14Jeg så, at alt, hvad folk foretager sig, er omsonst, det er som at bygge luftkasteller. 15Man kan ikke gøre det falske ægte, og man kan ikke afhjælpe alle mangler.
16Jeg sagde til mig selv: „Jeg har større viden end nogen anden konge før mig i Jerusalem. Jeg er den klogeste og mest intelligente.” 17Derfor har jeg tænkt meget over fordelen ved at have visdom og kundskab frem for at være dum og uvidende. Men jeg opdagede, at selv det var formålsløst. 18Jo mere visdom, des større lidelse, jo mere kundskab, des større smerte.
