Ecclesiastes 4
1 And again I saw all the cruel things which are done under the sun; there was the weeping of those who have evil done to them, and they had no comforter: and from the hands of the evil-doers there went out power, but they had no comforter.
Ngakhangela njalo ngabona konke ukuncindezelwa okwakukhona ngaphansi kwelanga: Ngabona inyembezi zabancindezelwayo babengelabaduduzi; amandla ayekulaba abancindezelayo abalaye umduduzi.
2 So my praise was for the dead who have gone to their death, more than for the living who still have life.
Ngangifakaza ukuthi abafileyo, abavele sebefile, bayathokoza kulabaphilayo, abalokhu besaphila.
3 Yes, happier than the dead or the living seemed he who has not ever been, who has not seen the evil which is done under the sun.
Kodwa okungcono kulakho kokubili ngulowo ongakabikhona, ongakaboni ububi obenziwayo ngaphansi kwelanga.
4 And I saw that the cause of all the work and of everything which is done well was man's envy of his neighbour. This again is to no purpose and a desire for wind.
Ngasengibona ukuthi konke ukusebenza lokuphumelela konke kuvela emhawini womuntu ngomakhelwane wakhe. Lokhu lakho kuyize, kuyikuxotshana lomoya.
5 The foolish man, folding his hands, takes the flesh of his body for food.
Isiwula sigoqa izandla zaso sidilize impilo yaso.
6 One hand full of rest is better than two hands full of trouble and desire for wind.
Kungcono isandla esisodwa esigcweleyo silokuthula kulezandla ezimbili ezingagcwalanga ezilomtshikatshika lokuxotshana lomoya.
7 Then I came back, and I saw an example of what is to no purpose under the sun.
Njalo ngabona okunye okuyize ngaphansi kwelanga:
8 It is one who is by himself, without a second, and without son or brother; but there is no end to all his work, and he has never enough of wealth. For whom, then, am I working and keeping myself from pleasure? This again is to no purpose, and a bitter work.
Kwakulendoda eyayiyodwa zwi; yayingelandodana loba umfowabo. Yayisebenza gadalala ingaphumuli, kodwa amehlo ayo ayengasuthiswa yinotho yayo. Yabuza yathi, “Ngiginqela bani kangaka, njalo kungani ngizincitsha intokozo?” Lokhu lakho kuyize umsebenzi othelela usizi!
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their work.
Ababili bangcono kuloyedwa, ngoba balomvuzo obonakalayo ngomsebenzi wabo.
10 And if one has a fall, the other will give him a hand; but unhappy is the man who is by himself, because he has no helper.
Omunye angawa, umngane wakhe uyamncedisa amvuse. Kodwa maye lowomuntu owayo kungelamuntu ongamsiza amvuse!
11 So again, if two are sleeping together they are warm, but how may one be warm by himself?
Njalo nxa ababili belala ndawonye bazakhudumezana. Kanti umuntu angakhudumala kanjani eyedwa na?
12 And two attacked by one would be safe, and three cords twisted together are not quickly broken.
Loba umuntu engehlulwa nxa eyedwa, ababili bangazivikela. Intambo elemicu emithathu kayiqamuki lula.
13 A young man who is poor and wise is better than a king who is old and foolish and will not be guided by the wisdom of others.
Lingcono ijaha elingumyanga kodwa lihlakaniphile kulenkosi endala eyisiwula eyalayo ukwamukela izixwayiso.
14 Because out of a prison the young man comes to be king, though by birth he was only a poor man in the kingdom.
Ijaha lelo kungabe ngeliphuma ejele libe yinkosi, loba lingelazalelwa ebuyangeni elizweni lalowombuso.
15 I saw all the living under the sun round the young man who was to be ruler in place of the king.
Ngabona ukuthi bonke ababephila behamba ngaphansi kwelanga balilandela lelojaha elathatha isikhundla sobukhosi.
16 There was no end of all the people, of all those whose head he was, but they who come later will have no delight in him. This again is to no purpose and desire for wind.
Amakhosi la (endala lencinyane) kungabe ayelodumo elandelwa ngabantu abanengi abangelakubalwa. Kodwa izizukulwane ezilandelayo azimthandanga lowo owathatha ubukhosi. Lokhu lakho kuyize, yikuxotshana lomoya.
