Ecclesiastes 4
1 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!
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 I congratulated those who were already dead, for the dead are better off than those who are still alive and being oppressed.
Nami nikasema kwamba wafu, waliokwisha kufa, wana furaha kuliko watu walio hai, ambao bado wanaishi.
3 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.
Lakini aliye bora kuliko hao wawili ni yule ambaye hajazaliwa bado, ambaye hajaona ule uovu unaofanyika chini ya jua.
4 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.
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 Fools fold their arms and do nothing—so in the end they're all used up.
Mpumbavu hukunja mikono yake na kujiangamiza mwenyewe.
6 It's better to earn a little without stress than a lot with too much stress and chasing after the wind.
Afadhali konzi moja pamoja na utulivu kuliko konzi mbili pamoja na taabu na kukimbiza upepo.
7 Then I turned to consider something else here on earth that is also frustratingly hard to understand.
Tena nikaona kitu kingine kilicho ubatili chini ya jua:
8 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!
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, for they can help each other in their work.
Wawili ni afadhali kuliko mmoja, kwa sababu wana malipo mazuri kwa kazi yao:
10 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.
Kama mmoja akianguka, mwenzake atamwinua. Lakini ni jambo la kuhuzunisha kwa mtu yule aangukaye naye hana wa kumwinua!
11 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.
Pia, kama wawili wakilala pamoja watapashana joto. Lakini ni vipi mtu aweza kujipasha joto mwenyewe?
12 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.
Ingawa mtu mmoja aweza kushindwa, watu wawili wanaweza kumkabili adui na kumshinda. Kamba ya nyuzi tatu haikatiki kwa urahisi.
13 A poor young person who's wise is better than an old and foolish king who no longer accepts advice.
Afadhali kijana maskini mwenye hekima kuliko mfalme mzee mpumbavu ambaye hajui tena kupokea maonyo.
14 He may even come out of prison to reign over his kingdom, even though he was born poor.
Kijana huyo angeweza kutokea gerezani akapata ufalme, au angeweza kuwa amezaliwa katika umaskini kwenye huo ufalme.
15 I observed everyone here on earth following the youth who takes his place.
Nikaona kwamba wote walioishi na kutembea chini ya jua walimfuata kijana, aliyepokea ufalme.
16 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.
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.
