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.
And I have turned, and I see all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and lo, the tear of the oppressed, and they have no comforter; and at the hand of their oppressors [is] power, and they have no comforter.
2 Kendo ne angʼado ni joma ne osetho moyiki, gin johawi moloyo joma pod ngima.
And I am praising the dead who have already died above the living who are yet alive.
3 To joma johawi moloyogi duto, gin jogo ma pod ok onywol, ma pod ok oneno richo mitimo e bwo wangʼ chiengʼ.
And better than both of them [is] he who hath not yet been, in that he hath not seen the evil work that hath been done under the sun.
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.
And I have seen all the labour, and all the benefit of the work, because for it a man is the envy of his neighbour. Even this [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.
5 Joma ofuwo masiko kokwakore, ketho ngimane owuon.
The fool is clasping his hands, and eating his own flesh:
6 Bedo gi chiemo moromo lwedo achiel gi chuny mokwe ber moloyo bedo gi chiemo moromo lwedo ariyo gi tich matek, mature kayiem nono.
'Better [is] a handful [with] quietness, than two handfuls [with] labour and vexation of spirit.'
7 Ne achako aneno gimoro maonge tiende e bwo wangʼ chiengʼ:
And I have turned, and I see a vain thing under the sun:
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!
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.
9 Ji ariyo ber moloyo ngʼato achiel nikech giyudo ohala kuom tich ma gitiyo.
The two [are] better than the one, in that they have a good reward by their labour.
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!
For if they fall, the one raiseth up his companion, but woe to the one who falleth and there is not a second to raise him up!
11 Bende, ka ji ariyo onindo kanyakla, to gibiro yudo liet. To ere kaka ngʼato nyalo yudo liet ka en kende?
Also, if two lie down, then they have heat, but how hath one heat?
12 Kata ka dipo ni ngʼato achiel inyalo loyo, to ji ariyo nyalo gengʼo jasigu. Tol mokad nyadidek ok chodo yot.
And if the one strengthen himself, the two stand against him; and the threefold cord is not hastily broken.
13 Ber bedo ngʼama tin modhier mariek moloyo ruoth moti mofuwo ma ok ongʼeyo kaka ikawo siem.
Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who hath not known to be warned any more.
14 Ngʼato nyalo bedo ni oa e twech kata odhier, to bangʼe obedo ruoth e pinygi.
For from a house of prisoners he hath come out to reign, for even in his own kingdom he hath been poor.
15 Aseneno ni jogo duto mane odak kendo owuotho e bwo wangʼ chiengʼ noluwo bangʼ ngʼama tin, mane okawo kom ruoth.
I have seen all the living, who are walking under the sun, with the second youth who doth stand in 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.
there is no end to all the people, to all who were before them; also, the latter rejoice not in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
