Mlaliki 4
1 Ndinayangʼananso ndi kuona chipsinjo chimene chimachitika pansi pano: ndinaona misozi ya anthu opsinjika, ndipo iwo alibe owatonthoza; mphamvu zinali ndi anthu owapsinjawo ndipo iwonso analibe owatonthoza.
Then again, I, considered all the oppressive deeds which were done under the sun, —and lo! the tears of the oppressed, and they have no comforter, and, on the side of their oppressing, is power, and they have no comforter.
2 Ndipo ndinanena kuti akufa, amene anafa kale, ndi osangalala kuposa amoyo, amene akanalibe ndi moyo.
So, I, pronounced happy the dead, who were, already, dead, —more than the living, who were living, still;
3 Koma wopambana onsewa ndi amene sanabadwe, amene sanaone zoyipa zimene chimachitika pansi pano.
and, as better than both, him who had not yet come into being, —who had not seen the vexatious work, which was done under the sun.
4 Ndipo ndinazindikira kuti ntchito zonse zolemetsa ndiponso ntchito zonse zaluso zimachitika chifukwa choti wina akuchitira nsanje mnzake. Izinso ndi zopandapake, nʼkungodzivuta chabe.
Then saw, I, all the toil and all the skill of the work, that, for this, a man was envied of his neighbour, —even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.
5 Chitsiru chimangoti manja ake lobodo ndi kudzipha chokha ndi njala.
The dullard, claspeth his hands, and consumeth his own flesh.
6 Nʼkwabwino kukhala ndi dzanja limodzi lodzaza uli pa mtendere, kuposa kukhala ndi manja awiri odzaza uli pa mavuto, ndipo uku nʼkungodzivuta chabe.
Better a handful—with quietness, —than both hands, full—with toil, and feeding on wind.
7 Ndinaonanso chinthu china chopanda phindu pansi pano:
Then again, I, looked at a vain thing under the sun: —
8 Panali munthu amene anali yekhayekha; analibe mwana kapena mʼbale. Ntchito yake yolemetsa sinkatha, ndipo maso ake sankakhutitsidwa ndi chuma chake. Iye anadzifunsa kuti, “Kodi ntchito yosautsayi ndikuyigwirira yani? Nanga nʼchifukwa chiyani ndikudzimana chisangalalo?” Izinso ndi zopandapake, zosasangalatsa!
Here is one, without a second, even son or brother, he hath none, yet is there no end to all his toil, even his eye, is not satisfied with riches, —neither [saith he] For whom, am I toiling, and letting my soul want good? Even this, was vanity, yea a vexatious employment, it was!
9 Kukhala awiri nʼkwabwino kuposa kukhala wekha, chifukwa ntchito ya anthu awiri ili ndi phindu:
Better are two, than one, —in that they have a good reward for their toil.
10 Ngati winayo agwa, mnzakeyo adzamudzutsa. Koma tsoka kwa munthu amene agwa ndipo alibe wina woti amudzutse!
For, if the one should fall, [the other] would raise up his companion, —but alas! for him who is alone when he falleth, with no second to raise him up!
11 Komanso ngati anthu awiri agona malo amodzi, adzafunditsana. Koma nanga mmodzi angadzifunditse yekha?
Moreover, if two lie together, then have they warmth, —but how can, one, have warmth?
12 Munthu mmodzi angathe kugonjetsedwa, koma anthu awiri akhoza kudziteteza. Chingwe cha maulusi atatu sichidukirapo.
And, though an enemy should prevail against one, two, might make a stand before him, —and, a threefold cord, cannot soon be broken.
13 Wachinyamata wosauka koma wanzeru aposa mfumu yokalamba koma yopusa imene simvanso malangizo.
Better a boy poor and wise, —than a king, old and stupid, who knoweth not how to take warning any longer.
14 Wachinyamatayo angathe kuchokera ku ndende ndi kudzakhala mfumu, kapena angathe kubadwa wosauka mʼdziko la mfumuyo.
For, out of prison, came he forth to reign, yea, even in his own kingdom, was he born poor.
15 Ndipo ndinaona kuti iwo onse amene anakhala ndi moyo ndi kuyenda pansi pano anatsatira wachinyamatayo, amene anatenga malo a mfumu.
I saw all the living, who were going hither and thither under the sun, —[that they were] with the boy who was to be the second, who was to stand in the other’s place: —
16 Mfumu ikhoza kulamulira anthu osawerengeka, komabe itamwalira, palibe amene adzayamikire zomwe mfumuyo inachita. Izinso ndi zopandapake, nʼkungozivuta chabe.
There was no end to all the people, to all before whom he came, yet, they who should come later, would not rejoice in him, —surely, even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.
