1. MaarBut× mensenpeople× inin× het midden?the middle?× ZijThey× hebbenhave× genoeg.enough.× ZeThey× zijnare× gezond.healthy.× ZeThey× slapensleep× goedwell× 's nachts.at night.× ZelfsEven× koningenkings× wensenwish× datthat× zethey× inin× de middenklassethe middle class× geborenborn× waren.were.× De wijze mannenThe wise men× vanof× vroegerthe past× zeidensaid× hetit× ook.too.× ZeThey× wildenwanted× netjust× genoeg.enough.× DatThat× isis× watwhat× jijyou× hebt,have,× mijn zoon.my son.× Slower0.7Slow0.85Normal1Fast1.15Faster1.3Translate paragraph Language tipsBut people in the middle? They have enough. They are healthy. They sleep well at night. Even kings wish that they were born in the middle class. The wise men of the past said it too. They wanted just enough. That is what you have, my son.
2. Mijn vaderMy father× bleefkept× praten.talking.× InIn× de middenklassethe middle class× kuncan× jeyou× vredepeace× hebben.have.× JeYou× kuntcan× vriendenfriends× hebben.have.× JeYou× kuntcan× vanof× simpelesimple× dingenthings× genieten.enjoy.× JeYou× werktwork× maarbut× nietnot× tetoo× hard.hard.× JeYou× hebthave× geldmoney× maarbut× nietnot× te veel.too much.× JeYou× hoefthave to× nietnot× teto× vechtenfight× voorfor× brood.bread.× JeYou× kuntcan× eerlijkhonestly× levenlive× enand× vredigpeacefully× sterven.die.× Slower0.7Slow0.85Normal1Fast1.15Faster1.3Translate paragraph Language tipsMy father kept talking. "In the middle class you can have peace. You can have friends. You can enjoy simple things. You work but not too hard. You have money but not too much. You don't have to fight for bread. You can live honestly and die peacefully."
3. ToenThen× werdbecame× zijn stemhis voice× harder.harder.× MaarBut× alsif× jeyou× naarto× zeesea× gaat?go?× JeYou× vindtfind× alleenonly× ellende.misery.× IkI× waarschuwwarn× jeyou× nu.now.× AlsIf× jeyou× weggaat,leave,× zulwill× jeyou× lijden.suffer.× JeYou× zultwill× alleenalone× zijn.be.× JeYou× zultwill× hongerhungry× hebben.be.× JeYou× zultwill× stormenstorms× enand× ziektedisease× tegenkomen.encounter.× Slower0.7Slow0.85Normal1Fast1.15Faster1.3Translate paragraph Language tipsThen his voice became harder. "But if you go to sea? You find only misery. I warn you now. If you leave, you will suffer. You will be alone. You will be hungry. You will encounter storms and disease."
4. HijHe× begonbegan× teto× huilencry× toenwhen× hijhe× overabout× mijn broermy brother× praattetalked× diewho× stierf.died.× Je broerYour brother× luisterdelistened× ookalso× nietnot× naarto× mij.me.× HijHe× wildewanted× soldaatsoldier× worden.become.× HijHe× wildewanted× roem.fame.× NuNow× isis× hijhe× dooddead× inin× een vreemd land.a strange land.× Wilwant× jijyou× ookalso× verfar× vanfrom× huishome× sterven?die?× Mijn vaderMy father× koncould× nietnot× meeranymore× praten.talk.× Slower0.7Slow0.85Normal1Fast1.15Faster1.3Translate paragraph Language tipsHe began to cry when he talked about my brother who died. "Your brother also didn't listen to me. He wanted to become a soldier. He wanted fame. Now he is dead in a strange land. Do you also want to die far from home?" My father couldn't talk anymore.
5. Ik wasI was× geraakttouched× doorby× watwhat× hijhe× zei.said.× Welke zoonWhich son× zouwould× datthat× nietnot× zijn?be?× Ik beslootI decided× thuishome× te blijven.to stay.× Ik zouI would× de zeethe sea× vergeten.forget.× Ik zouI would× mijn vadermy father× gelukkighappy× maken.make.× MaarBut× mijn besluitmy decision× duurdelasted× nietnot× lang.long.× NaAfter× een paar dagena few days× wildewanted× ikI× weeragain× weg.leave.× Slower0.7Slow0.85Normal1Fast1.15Faster1.3Translate paragraph Language tipsI was touched by what he said. Which son wouldn't be? I decided to stay home. I would forget the sea. I would make my father happy. But my decision didn't last long. After a few days I wanted to leave again.
6. Ik wachtteI waited× een paar weken.a few weeks.× ToenThen× praattetalked× ikI× metwith× mijn moeder.my mother.× Ik dachtI thought× datthat× zijshe× makkelijkereasier× te overtuigento convince× waswas× danthan× mijn vader.my father.× Moeder,Mother,× zeisaid× ik,I,× ik benI am× nunow× achttien jaareighteen years× oud.old.× Ik kanI cannot× nietnot× stoppenstop× metwith× denkenthinking× aanabout× reizen.traveling.× AlsIf× ikI× hierhere× blijf,stay,× benam× ikI× voor altijdforever× ongelukkig.unhappy.× Slower0.7Slow0.85Normal1Fast1.15Faster1.3Translate paragraph Language tipsI waited a few weeks. Then I talked with my mother. I thought that she was easier to convince than my father. "Mother," I said, "I am now eighteen years old. I cannot stop thinking about traveling. If I stay here, I am unhappy forever."
7. PraatTalk× alsjeblieftplease× metwith× vader,father,× gingcontinued× ikI× verder.further.× VraagAsk× hemhim× omto× mijme× één reisone trip× te latento let× maken.make.× AlsIf× ikI× hetit× nietnot× leuklike× vind,find,× komcome× ikI× naar huis.home.× Ik beloofI promise× het.it.× Ik zalI will× twee keertwice× zoas× hardhard× werkenwork× omto× de verloren tijdthe lost time× goedgood× te maken.to make.× MaarBut× mijn moedermy mother× werdbecame× heelvery× boos.angry.× Slower0.7Slow0.85Normal1Fast1.15Faster1.3Translate paragraph Language tips"Please talk with father," I continued. "Ask him to let me make one trip. If I don't like it, I come home. I promise. I will work twice as hard to make up for the lost time." But my mother became very angry.
