Scrutatio

Martedi, 7 maggio 2024 - Santa Flavia ( Letture di oggi)

Ecclesiastes/Qohelet 6


font
KING JAMES BIBLENEW JERUSALEM
1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:1 I see another evil under the sun, which goes hard with people:
2 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.2 suppose someone has received from God riches, property, honours -- nothing at al left to wish for; butGod does not give the chance to enjoy them, and some stranger enjoys them. This is futile, and grievoussuffering too.
3 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.3 Or take someone who has had a hundred children and lived for many years, and, having reached oldage, has never enjoyed the good things of life and has not even got a tomb; it seems to me, a still-born child ishappier.
4 For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.4 In futility it came, into darkness it departs, and in darkness will its name be buried.
5 Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.5 It has never so much as seen or known the sun; al the same, it wil rest more easily than that person,
6 Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?6 who would never have known the good things of life, even by living a thousand years twice over. Do wenot al go to the same place in the end?
7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.7 Al toil is for the mouth, yet the appetite is never satisfied.
8 For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?8 What advantage has the wise over the fool? And what of the pauper who knows how to behave insociety?
9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.9 Better the object seen than the sting of desire: for the latter too is futile and chasing after the wind.
10 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.10 What has been is already defined -- we know what people are: They cannot bring to justice one who isstronger than themselves.
11 Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?11 The more we say, the more futile it is: what good can we derive from it?
12 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?12 And who knows what is best for someone during life, during the days of futile life which are spent like ashadow? Who can tel anyone what wil happen after him under the sun?