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Martedi, 14 maggio 2024 - San Mattia ( Letture di oggi)

Ecclesiastes/Qohelet 6


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CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAINNEW JERUSALEM
1 There is also another evil, which I have seen under the sun, and, indeed, it is frequent among men.1 I see another evil under the sun, which goes hard with people:
2 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.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 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.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 arrives without a purpose and he continues on into darkness, and his name shall be wiped away, into oblivion.4 In futility it came, into darkness it departs, and in darkness will its name be buried.
5 He has not seen the sun, nor recognized the difference between good and evil.5 It has never so much as seen or known the sun; al the same, it wil rest more easily than that person,
6 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?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 Every labor of man is for his mouth, but his soul will not be filled.7 Al toil is for the mouth, yet the appetite is never satisfied.
8 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?8 What advantage has the wise over the fool? And what of the pauper who knows how to behave insociety?
9 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.9 Better the object seen than the sting of desire: for the latter too is futile and chasing after the wind.
10 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.10 What has been is already defined -- we know what people are: They cannot bring to justice one who isstronger than themselves.
11 There are many words, and many of these, in disputes, hold much emptiness.11 The more we say, the more futile it is: what good can we derive from it?
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?