Verse 8

There was a man all alone. He had no son or brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. 'For whom am I toiling,' he asked, 'and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?' This too is meaningless—a miserable business!

Other Translations

  • GT, oversatt fra Hebraisk

    Det finnes én som lever helt alene, uten sønn eller bror, og likevel tar slitet aldri slutt. Øynene hans blir heller ikke mette av rikdom. 'For hvem arbeider jeg for, og nekter meg selv glede?' Også dette er meningsløst og en vanskelig gåte.

  • Moderne oversettelse av Bibelen fra 1611 KJV med hebraisk kontekst

    Det er én alene, og ingen annen; ingen sønn eller bror har han, men det er ingen ende på alt hans strev, heller ikke blir hans øyne tilfredsstilt med rikdom. 'For hvem arbeider jeg og fratar min sjel det gode?' Dette er også forgjeveshet, ja, en ond beskjeftigelse.

  • Norsk King James

    Det er en som er alene, og det finnes ikke en annen; ja, han har verken barn eller bror; likevel er det ingen ende på alt hans arbeid, og øyet hans blir ikke tilfredsstilt med rikdom; han sier heller ikke: For hvem arbeider jeg, og fratar min sjel det gode? Dette er også tomhet, ja, det er en tung prøvelse.

  • Modernisert Norsk Bibel 1866

    Det er en som lever alene uten noen andre, verken sønn eller bror, men det er ingen ende på alt hans arbeid, og hans øyne blir ikke mette av rikdom. Han spør seg ikke selv: 'Hvem arbeider jeg for og lar sjelen min gå glipp av det gode?' Også dette er tomhet og en ond strev.

  • Oversettelse av hebraiske Bibeltekster til moderne norsk bokmål

    Det er en mann alene uten noen tilknytning, verken sønn eller bror, men det er ingen ende på arbeid hans, og øynene hans blir ikke mette av rikdom. For hvem sliter jeg, og nekter min egen sjel det gode? Også dette er tomhet og en uheldig slitasje.

  • Bibelen: En Moderne Oversettelse av King James Version 1611

    Det er én alene uten noen annen; han har verken barn eller bror: likevel er det ingen ende på all hans møye, og hans øyne er ikke fornøyde med rikdom; han sier heller ikke: For hvem strever jeg og berøver min sjel det gode? Dette er også tomhet og en bitter møye.

  • o3-mini KJV Norsk

    En er alene, og det finnes ingen annen; han har verken barn eller bror. Likevel tar arbeidet hans aldri slutt, øynene hans blir aldri mette av rikdom, og han spør aldri: 'For hvem arbeider jeg, og fratar min sjel det gode?' Dette er også tomhet, ja, et bittert strev.

  • En Moderne Oversettelse av King James Version 1611 (mar 2025)

    Det er én alene uten noen annen; han har verken barn eller bror: likevel er det ingen ende på all hans møye, og hans øyne er ikke fornøyde med rikdom; han sier heller ikke: For hvem strever jeg og berøver min sjel det gode? Dette er også tomhet og en bitter møye.

  • Lingvistisk bibeloversettelse fra grunntekst

    Der er én som er alene og ikke har noen annen, heller ikke sønn eller bror, og det er ingen ende på all hans slit; hans øyne blir ikke mette av rikdom. For hvem arbeider jeg, og berøver min sjel av det gode? Også dette er forgjeves og et vondt arbeid.

  • GT, oversatt fra hebraisk Aug2024

    Det er en som er alene uten en annen, verken sønn eller bror, og det er ingen ende på alt hans strev, og hans øyne er ikke fornøyd med rikdom. Han sier ikke: ’Hvem arbeider jeg for og fornekter meg selv goder?’. Dette er også meningsløst og en vond plage.

  • Original Norsk Bibel 1866

    Der er En eenlig og ikke selv anden, og haver hverken Søn eller Broder, dog er der ingen Ende paa alt hans Arbeide, og hans Øine mættes ikke af Rigdom, og (han siger ikke): Hvem arbeider jeg til og lader min Sjæl fattes det Gode? dette er ogsaa Forfængelighed, og det er en ond Møie.

  • King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

    There is one alone, and there is not a sond; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

  • KJV 1769 norsk

    Det er én alene, uten noen sønn eller bror: likevel er det ingen ende på hans arbeid, og hans øyne blir ikke mette av rikdom; han sier heller ikke: For hvem arbeider jeg, og frarøver sjelen min det gode? Dette er også forgjengelighet, ja, en vondt strev.

  • KJV1611 - Moderne engelsk

    There is one alone, without a second; yes, he has neither child nor brother, yet there is no end to all his labor, nor is his eye satisfied with riches, nor does he ask, 'For whom do I labor and deprive my soul of good?' This is also vanity, yes, it is a grievous toil.

  • King James Version 1611 (Original)

    There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

  • Norsk oversettelse av Webster

    Der er én som er alene og har verken sønn eller bror. Det er ingen ende på all hans slit, hans øyne blir ikke mett av rikdom. For hvem sliter jeg da, og berøver min sjel nytelse? Også dette er tomhet, ja, det er en elendig gjerning.

  • Norsk oversettelse av Youngs Literal Translation

    Der er én alene uten noen andre, verken sønn eller bror har han, og det er ingen ende på alt hans arbeid. Hans øyne blir ikke mette av rikdom. 'For hvem arbeider jeg og berøver min sjel for godt?' Dette er også tomhet og et trist slit.

  • Norsk oversettelse av ASV1901

    Det er en som er alene og ikke har noen sekund, ja, han har verken sønn eller bror, men det er ingen ende på alt hans arbeid, og heller ikke blir hans øyne tilfredsstilt av rikdom. For hvem da, sier han, arbeider jeg, og fratar min sjel det gode? Dette er også tomhet, ja, det er et smertefullt strev.

  • Norsk oversettelse av BBE

    Det er én alene, uten følgesvenn, uten sønn eller bror; men det er ingen ende på alt hans arbeid, og han blir aldri fornøyd med rikdom. For hvem arbeider jeg da, og frarøver meg selv glede? Dette er også meningsløst og et surt arbeid.

  • Coverdale Bible (1535)

    There is one man, no mo but himself alone, hauynge nether childe ner brother: yet is there no ende of his carefull trauayle, his eyes can not be satisfied with riches, (yet doth he not remembre himself, & saye:) For whom do I take soch trauayle? For whose pleasure do I thus consume awaye my lyfe? This is also a vayne and miserable thinge.

  • Geneva Bible (1560)

    There is one alone, & there is not a second, which hath neither sonne nor brother, yet is there none end of all his trauaile, neither can his eye be satisfied with riches: neither doeth he thinke, For whome doe I trauaile and defraude my soule of pleasure? this also is vanitie, and this is an euill trauaile.

  • Bishops' Bible (1568)

    There is one man, no mo but himselfe alone, hauing neither childe nor brother, yet is there no ende of his carefull trauayle, his eyes can not be satisfied with riches: yet saith he not for whom do I take such trauayle? For whose pleasure do I thus consume away my life? This is also a vayne and miserable thyng.

  • Authorized King James Version (1611)

    There is one [alone], and [there is] not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet [is there] no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither [saith he], For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This [is] also vanity, yea, it [is] a sore travail.

  • Webster's Bible (1833)

    There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. For whom then, do I labor, and deprive my soul of enjoyment? This also is vanity, yes, it is a miserable business.

  • Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

    There is one, and there is not a second; even son or brother he hath not, and there is no end to all his labour! His eye also is not satisfied with riches, and `he saith not', `For whom am I labouring and bereaving my soul of good?' This also is vanity, it is a sad travail.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches. For whom then, [saith he], do I labor, and deprive my soul of good? This also is vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

  • Bible in Basic English (1941)

    It is one who is by himself, without a second, and without son or brother; but there is no end to all his work, and he has never enough of wealth. For whom, then, am I working and keeping myself from pleasure? This again is to no purpose, and a bitter work.

  • World English Bible (2000)

    There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. "For whom then, do I labor, and deprive my soul of enjoyment?" This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.

  • NET Bible® (New English Translation)

    A man who is all alone with no companion, he has no children nor siblings; yet there is no end to all his toil, and he is never satisfied with riches. He laments,“For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is futile and a burdensome task!

Referenced Verses

  • Prov 27:20 : 20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and neither are the eyes of man.
  • Eccl 1:8 : 8 All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing.
  • Eccl 1:13 : 13 I set my heart to seek and explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a burdensome task God has given to the human race to occupy themselves with!
  • Gen 2:18 : 18 Then the LORD God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is suitable for him.'
  • Ps 39:6 : 6 Behold, You have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before You. Surely, every man is but a breath. Selah.
  • 1 John 2:16 : 16 For all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father, but is from the world.
  • Eccl 4:9-9 : 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. 10 For if either of them falls, the one will help up his companion. But woe to the one who falls and has no one to help him up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
  • Eccl 5:10 : 10 As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them?
  • Isa 5:8 : 8 Woe to those who add house to house and join field to field until there is no room, and you live alone in the midst of the land.
  • Isa 44:19-20 : 19 No one considers in his heart, no one has the knowledge or insight to say, 'Half of it I burned in the fire; I also baked bread on its coals, roasted meat, and ate. Now, should I make an abomination of the rest? Should I bow down to a block of wood?' 20 He feeds on ashes. A deceived heart has led him astray, and he cannot save himself or say, 'Isn't there a lie in my right hand?'
  • Isa 55:2 : 2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of food.
  • Isa 56:3-5 : 3 Let no foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, 'The LORD will surely exclude me from His people.' And let no eunuch say, 'I am a dry tree.' 4 For this is what the LORD says: 'To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold tightly to my covenant, 5 I will give them within my house and within my walls a place and a name better than sons and daughters. I will give them an everlasting name that will never be cut off.'
  • Hab 2:5-9 : 5 Indeed, because wine betrays, and an arrogant man is restless, enlarging his appetite like Sheol and never satisfied, he gathers all the nations to himself and collects all peoples as his own. 6 Will not all these take up a taunt against him, with mocking sayings and riddles? They will say, "Woe to him who amasses what is not his! How long will this go on? And who weighs himself down with stolen goods?" 7 Will not your creditors suddenly arise? Will not those who make you tremble wake up? Then you will become their plunder. 8 Because you have plundered many nations, the remnant of peoples will plunder you—because of human bloodshed and violence against the land, the cities, and everyone who lives in them. 9 Woe to the one who gains unjust wealth for his house, to set his nest on high, to be safe from the reach of calamity!
  • Matt 11:28 : 28 Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
  • Luke 12:20 : 20 But God said to him, 'Fool! This very night your soul will be required of you, and the things you have prepared—who will they belong to?'
  • Gen 15:2-3 : 2 Abram said, "Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?" 3 And Abram said, "You have given me no children, so a servant in my household will be my heir."
  • Eccl 2:23 : 23 All their days are full of sorrow, and their work is filled with grief; even at night their mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.