Ecclesiastes 6
Thomson 1808
Brenton 1851
Greek · Brenton
1
ThomsonTHERE is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men—
BrentonThere is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is abundant with man:
GreekἜστι πονηρία ἣν εἶδον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, καὶ πολλή ἐστιν ὑπὸ τὸν ἄνθρωπον·
2
Thomsona man to whom God giveth riches and wealth and glory, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he can desire; but God granteth him not a power to eat thereof. In as much as a stranger is to devour it, this is vanity and grievous infirmity.
Brentona man to whom God shall give wealth, and substance, and honour, and he wants nothing for his soul of all things that he shall desire, yet God shall not give him power to eat of it, for a stranger shall devour it: this is vanity, and an evil infirmity.
GreekἈνὴρ ᾧ δώσει αὐτῷ ὁ Θεὸς πλοῦτον καὶ ὑπαρχοντα καὶ δόξαν, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ὑστερῶν τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ πάντων ὧν ἐπιθυμήσει, καὶ οὐκ ἐξουσιάσει αὐτῷ ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ φαγεῖν ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἀνὴρ ξένος φάγεται αὐτόν· τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ ἀῤῥωστία πονηρά ἐστιν.
3
ThomsonThough a man should beget a hundred children and live many years, if during that multitude of years which his days shall continue, his soul shall not be satisfied with an enjoyment of good, and he hath got no burying place, I conclude that an abortive [child] is better than he.
BrentonIf a man beget a hundred children, and live many years, yea, however abundant the days of his years shall be, yet if his soul shall not be satisfied with good, and also he have no burial; I said, An untimely birth is better than he.
GreekἘὰν γεννήσῃ ἀνὴρ ἑκατόν, καὶ ἔτη πολλὰ ζήσεται, καὶ πλῆθος ὅ, τι ἔσονται αἱ ἡμέραι ἐτῶν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ οὐ πλησθήσεται ἀπὸ τῆς ἀγαθωσύνης, καί γε ταφὴ οὐκ ἐγένετο αὐτῷ, εἶπα, ἀγαθὸν ὑπὲρ αὐτὸν τὸ ἔκτρωμα.
4
ThomsonGrant that it came in vanity and goeth away in darkness; with darkness also his name shall be covered!
BrentonFor he came in vanity, and departs in darkness, and his name shall be covered in darkness.
GreekὍτι ἐν ματαιότητι ἦλθε, καὶ ἐν σκότει πορεύεται, καὶ ἐν σκότει ὄνομα αὐτοῦ καλυφθήσεται·
5
ThomsonIt indeed never saw the light; and he never knew rest: it hath an advantage over him
BrentonMoreover he has not seen the sun, nor known rest: there is no more rest to this one than another.
GreekΚαί γε ἥλιον οὐκ εἶδε, καὶ οὐκ ἔγνω ἀναπαύσεις, τούτῳ ὑπὲρ τοῦτον·
6
Thomsonthough he had lived the revolutions of a thousand years, if he never enjoyed good. Do not all go to one place?
BrentonThough he has lived to the return of a thousand years, yet he has seen no good: do not all go to one place?
GreekΚαὶ ἔζησε χιλίων ἐτῶν καθόδους, καὶ ἀγαθωσύνην οὐκ εἶδε, μὴ οὐκ εἰς τόπον ἕνα πορεύεται τὰ πάντα;
7
ThomsonAll the labour of a man is for the mouth; yet the appetite will not be satisfied:
BrentonAll the labour of a man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite shall not be satisfied.
GreekΠᾶς μόχθος ἀνθρώπου εἰς στόμα αὐτοῦ, καί γε ἡ ψυχὴ οὐ πληρωθήσεται.
8
Thomsonhere then a wise man hath the advantage over a fool; since the poor man knoweth that to pass through life,
BrentonFor what advantage has the wise man over the fool, since even the poor knows how to walk in the direction of life?
GreekὍτι περίσσεια τῷ σοφῷ ὑπὲρ τὸν ἄφρονα, διότι ὁ πένης οἶδε πορευθῆναι κατέναντι τῆς ζωῆς.
9
Thomsonwhat he sees with the eyes is better for him than to be wandering after appetite, which is indeed vanity and vexation of spirit.
BrentonThe sight of the eyes is better than that which wanders in soul: this is also vanity, and waywardness of spirit.
GreekἈγαθὸν ὅραμα ὀφθαλμῶν ὑπερπορευόμενον ψυχῇ· καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος.
10
ThomsonWhatever hath been is now called by its name, and it is known what man is who cannot contend with one who is stronger than he.
BrentonIf anything has been, its name has already been called: and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who is stronger than he.
GreekΕἰ τι ἐγένετο, ἤδη κέκληται ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐγνώσθη ὅ ἐστιν ἄνθρωπος, καὶ οὐ δυνήσεται κριθῆναι μετὰ τοῦ ἰσχυροτὲρου ὑπὲρ αὐτόν.
11
ThomsonSince there are many arguments to prove the abundance of vanity; is there any one thing better than another for man?
BrentonFor there are many things which increase vanity.
GreekὍτι εἰσι λόγοι πολλοὶ πληθύνοντες ματαιότητα.
12
ThomsonDoth anyone know what is good for man in this life? All the days of his life of vanity he hath indeed done these things under a shade; is there any one who can tell him what will be after him under the sun?
BrentonWhat advantage has a man? for who knows what is good for a man in his life, during the number of the life of the days of his vanity? and he has spent them as a shadow; for who shall tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
GreekΤί περισσὸν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ; ὅτι τίς οἶδεν ἀγαθὸν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ἐν τῇ ζωῇ, ἀριθμὸν ζωῆς ἡμερῶν ματαιότητος αὐτοῦ; καὶ ἐποίησεν αὐτὰ ἐν σκιᾷ· ὅτι τίς ἀπαγγελεῖ τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ, τί ἔσται ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον;