< Phungdeikung 4 >
1 Hahoi, kanî rahim vah sak e pacekpahleknae naw pueng bout ka pouk. Pacekpahleknae ka khang e taminaw ni a khuika ei nakunghai, hloutnae ka poe thai e tami awm hoeh. Ka pacekpahlek e taminaw teh bahu a tawn dawk hloutnae ka poe thai e tami awm hoeh.
I turned myself to other things, and I saw the false accusations which are carried out under the sun, and the tears of the innocent, and that there was no one to console them; and that they were not able to withstand their violence, being destitute of all help.
2 Hateiteh, kadout tangcoung e tami teh kahring rae tami hlak hoe yawhawinae ao telah a ti.
And so, I praised the dead more than the living.
3 Hatdawkvah, vai touh hai kaawm hoeh e tami, kanî rahim sak e yonnae kahmawt hoeh rae tami teh hote kahni touh hlak hoe yawhawinae ao.
And happier than both of these, I judged him to be, who has not yet been born, and who has not yet seen the evils which are done under the sun.
4 Hahoi, panki thapathonae hoi kahawicalah pâbaw e hnonaw pueng dawk hai thoseh, hot patetlah e hno dawkvah alouke tami ni hmuhmanae thoseh, kai ni ka pouk. Hote hno teh ahrawnghrang e hno kahlî man e hoi doeh a kâvan.
Again, I was contemplating all the labors of men. And I took notice that their endeavors are open to the envy of their neighbor. And so, in this, too, there is emptiness and superfluous anxiety.
5 Tami pathu ni teh a kut a kâtapam teh, amae a tak hah letlang a ca.
The foolish man folds his hands together, and he consumes his own flesh, saying:
6 Roumnae hoi hmu e kutvang touh e hno teh, tawnta laihoi kahlî man laihoi hmu e kutkarum touh e hno hlak bet ahawihnawn.
“A handful with rest is better than both hands filled with labors and with affliction of the soul.”
7 Hahoi, kanî rahim ahrawnghrang e hno bout ka pouk navah,
While considering this, I also discovered another vanity under the sun.
8 tami teh a huiko, a canaw, a hmaunawnghanaw tawn hoeh, ama dueng kaawm ei nakunghai, panki thapathonae baw thai hoeh. A hno hmunae dawkvah lungkuep thai hoeh. Kai ni mahoima ka yue teh api hane maw ka panki aw telah ka pacei boihoeh. Hete haiyah ahrawnghrang tawntam nah hrum doeh.
He is one, and he does not have a second: no son, no brother. And yet he does not cease to labor, nor are his eyes satisfied with wealth, nor does he reflect, saying: “For whom do I labor and cheat my soul of good things?” In this, too, is emptiness and a most burdensome affliction.
9 Tami teh madueng hlak tami kahni touh bet ahawi. Tawk pawiteh kahawie tawkphu a hmu.
Therefore, it is better for two to be together, than for one to be alone. For they have the advantage of their companionship.
10 Buet touh rawm pawiteh buet touh ni a pathaw han. Buet touh dueng e tami rawm pawiteh ahawinae awm hoeh. Kapathawkung awm mahoeh.
If one falls, he shall be supported by the other. Woe to one who is alone. For when he falls, he has no one to lift him up.
11 Tami teh kahni touh rei ip pawiteh a phubet han. Madueng teh bangtelamaw phubet thai han.
And if two are sleeping, they warm one another. How can one person alone be warmed?
12 Tami buet touh ni buet touh tâ pawiteh ahni hah tami kahni touh ni a ngang thai. Rui kathum touh hoi pakhit e tangron teh kayawicalah thawk thai hoeh.
And if a man can prevail against one, two may withstand him, and a threefold cord is broken with difficulty.
13 Tounnae ka ngai hoeh e, a kum kacue ka pathu e siangpahrang hlak, a lungkaang e mathoe camo teh aphuohnawn.
Better is a boy, poor and wise, than a king, old and foolish, who does not know to look ahead for the sake of posterity.
14 Thongim hoi siangpahrang koe ka phat e hai, a uknaeram dawk mathoe lah doeh a khe.
For sometimes, one goes forth from prison and chains, to a kingdom, while another, born to kingly power, is consumed by need.
15 Kanî rahim kaawm e taminaw pueng e kong ka pouk navah, ahnimouh thung dawk siangpahrang hmuen ka coe hane, camo ao awh e hah ka panue.
I saw all the living who are walking under the sun, and I saw the next generation, who shall rise up in their places.
16 Hote siangpahrang ni a uk e taminaw pueng parei thai kawi lah awm hoeh. A hnukkhu lah ka tho e taminaw ni hai hote siangpahrang hah a lungkuep thai awh mahoeh. Atangcalah, hote hno hai ahrawnghrang e hno, kahlî man e hoi doeh a kâvan.
The number of people, out of all who existed before these, is boundless. And those who will exist afterwards shall not rejoice in them. But this, too, is emptiness and an affliction of the spirit.