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.
Nikatazama tena nikaona uonevu wote uliokuwa unafanyika chini ya jua: Nikaona machozi ya walioonewa, wala hawana wa kuwafariji; uwezo ulikuwa upande wa wale wanaowaonea, wala hawana wa kuwafariji.
2 So my praise was for the dead who have gone to their death, more than for the living who still have life.
Nami nikasema kwamba wafu, waliokwisha kufa, wana furaha kuliko watu walio hai, ambao bado wanaishi.
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.
Lakini aliye bora kuliko hao wawili ni yule ambaye hajazaliwa bado, ambaye hajaona ule uovu unaofanyika chini ya jua.
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.
Tena nikaona kuwa kazi zote na mafanikio yote huchipuka kutokana na wivu wa mtu kwa jirani yake. Hili nalo ni ubatili, ni kukimbiza upepo.
5 The foolish man, folding his hands, takes the flesh of his body for food.
Mpumbavu hukunja mikono yake na kujiangamiza mwenyewe.
6 One hand full of rest is better than two hands full of trouble and desire for wind.
Afadhali konzi moja pamoja na utulivu kuliko konzi mbili pamoja na taabu na kukimbiza upepo.
7 Then I came back, and I saw an example of what is to no purpose under the sun.
Tena nikaona kitu kingine kilicho ubatili chini ya jua:
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.
Kulikuwepo mwanadamu aliye peke yake, hakuwa na mwana wala ndugu. Hapakuwa na mwisho wa kazi yake, hata hivyo macho yake hayakutosheka na utajiri wake. Aliuliza, “Ninajitaabisha hivi kwa ajili ya nani, nami kwa nini ninajinyima kufurahia?” Hili pia ni ubatili, ni shughuli yenye taabu!
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their work.
Wawili ni afadhali kuliko mmoja, kwa sababu wana malipo mazuri kwa kazi yao:
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.
Kama mmoja akianguka, mwenzake atamwinua. Lakini ni jambo la kuhuzunisha kwa mtu yule aangukaye naye hana wa kumwinua!
11 So again, if two are sleeping together they are warm, but how may one be warm by himself?
Pia, kama wawili wakilala pamoja watapashana joto. Lakini ni vipi mtu aweza kujipasha joto mwenyewe?
12 And two attacked by one would be safe, and three cords twisted together are not quickly broken.
Ingawa mtu mmoja aweza kushindwa, watu wawili wanaweza kumkabili adui na kumshinda. Kamba ya nyuzi tatu haikatiki kwa urahisi.
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.
Afadhali kijana maskini mwenye hekima kuliko mfalme mzee mpumbavu ambaye hajui tena kupokea maonyo.
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.
Kijana huyo angeweza kutokea gerezani akapata ufalme, au angeweza kuwa amezaliwa katika umaskini kwenye huo ufalme.
15 I saw all the living under the sun round the young man who was to be ruler in place of the king.
Nikaona kwamba wote walioishi na kutembea chini ya jua walimfuata kijana, aliyepokea ufalme.
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.
Hapakuwa na kikomo cha watu wote aliowatawala. Lakini wale waliokuja baadaye hawakufurahia kazi ya yule aliyepokea ufalme. Hili nalo pia ni ubatili, ni kukimbiza upepo.
