Eklesiastes 4
1 Bende ne aneno timbe misandogo ji e pinyni, mi aneno joma isando kaywak to onge ngʼama ne nyalo hoyogi, nikech joma ne sandogi ne nigi teko moloyogi.
Then I turned to consider all the ways people oppress others here on earth. Look at the tears of the oppressed—there's no one to comfort them! Powerful people oppress them, and there's no one to comfort them!
2 Kendo ne angʼado ni joma ne osetho moyiki, gin johawi moloyo joma pod ngima.
I congratulated those who were already dead, for the dead are better off than those who are still alive and being oppressed.
3 To joma johawi moloyogi duto, gin jogo ma pod ok onywol, ma pod ok oneno richo mitimo e bwo wangʼ chiengʼ.
But best of all are those who have never existed—they haven't seen the evil things people do to each other here on earth.
4 Kendo ne aneno ni tich matek duto kod ohala ma ngʼato yudo kuom tije timore mana nikech nyiego ma ngʼato nigo mar loyo nyawadgi. Ma bende onge tiende, ochalo gi lawo bangʼ yamo.
I observed that every skill in work comes from competition with others. Once again this is hard to understand, like trying to hold on to the elusive wind.
5 Joma ofuwo masiko kokwakore, ketho ngimane owuon.
Fools fold their arms and do nothing—so in the end they're all used up.
6 Bedo gi chiemo moromo lwedo achiel gi chuny mokwe ber moloyo bedo gi chiemo moromo lwedo ariyo gi tich matek, mature kayiem nono.
It's better to earn a little without stress than a lot with too much stress and chasing after the wind.
7 Ne achako aneno gimoro maonge tiende e bwo wangʼ chiengʼ:
Then I turned to consider something else here on earth that is also frustratingly hard to understand.
8 Ne nitiere ngʼama ne ni kende; ne oonge wuowi kata owadgi. Ne otiyo matek ma ok oywe, to kata kamano ne oneno ni mwandune tin. Nopenjo niya, “En ngʼa ma atiyone matek kendo angʼo omiyo atwonora mor?” Ma bende onge tiende, ohala maonge mor!
What about someone who has no family to help him, no brother or son, who works all the time, but isn't satisfied with the money he makes. “Who am I working for?” he asks himself. “Why am I preventing myself from enjoying life?” Such a situation is hard to explain—it's an evil business!
9 Ji ariyo ber moloyo ngʼato achiel nikech giyudo ohala kuom tich ma gitiyo.
Two are better than one, for they can help each other in their work.
10 Ka ngʼato achiel opodho, to osiepne nyalo konye mondo ochungʼ malo. To atimo mos ne ngʼatno ma opodho piny to oonge gi ngʼat makonye mondo ochungʼ malo!
If one of them falls down, the other can help them up, but how sad it is for someone who falls down and doesn't have anyone to help them up.
11 Bende, ka ji ariyo onindo kanyakla, to gibiro yudo liet. To ere kaka ngʼato nyalo yudo liet ka en kende?
In the same way, if two people lie down together, they keep each other warm, but you can't keep yourself warm if you're alone.
12 Kata ka dipo ni ngʼato achiel inyalo loyo, to ji ariyo nyalo gengʼo jasigu. Tol mokad nyadidek ok chodo yot.
Someone fighting against one other person may win, but not if they are fighting against two. A cord made of three strands can't be torn apart quickly.
13 Ber bedo ngʼama tin modhier mariek moloyo ruoth moti mofuwo ma ok ongʼeyo kaka ikawo siem.
A poor young person who's wise is better than an old and foolish king who no longer accepts advice.
14 Ngʼato nyalo bedo ni oa e twech kata odhier, to bangʼe obedo ruoth e pinygi.
He may even come out of prison to reign over his kingdom, even though he was born poor.
15 Aseneno ni jogo duto mane odak kendo owuotho e bwo wangʼ chiengʼ noluwo bangʼ ngʼama tin, mane okawo kom ruoth.
I observed everyone here on earth following the youth who takes his place.
16 Joma ne obiro motelone ne onge gikogi. To jogo mane obiro bangʼe ne ok mor kod ruoth mane okawo kare. Ma bende onge tiende, ochalo gi lawo bangʼ yamo.
He is surrounded by crowds of supporters, but the next generation isn't happy with him. This also illustrates the passing nature of life whose meaning is elusive, like pursuing the wind for understanding.
