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!
Nang magkagayo'y pumihit ako, at aking nakita ang lahat na kapighatian na nagawa sa ilalim ng araw: at, narito, ang mga luha ng mga yaon, na napipighati, at wala silang mangaaliw: at sa siping ng mga mamimighati sa kanila ay may kapangyarihan, nguni't wala silang mangaaliw.
2 I congratulated those who were already dead, for the dead are better off than those who are still alive and being oppressed.
Kaya't aking pinuri ang patay na namatay na, ng higit kay sa may buhay na nabubuhay pa;
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.
Oo, maigi kay sa kanila kapuwa ang hindi ipinanganganak, na hindi nakakita ng masamang gawa na nagawa sa ilalim ng araw.
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.
Nang magkagayo'y nakita ko ang lahat na gawa, at bawa't gawang mainam na dahil dito ay pinananaghilian ang tao ng kaniyang kapuwa. Ito man ay walang kabuluhan at nauuwi sa wala.
5 Fools fold their arms and do nothing—so in the end they're all used up.
Inihahalukipkip ng mangmang ang kaniyang mga kamay, at kumakain ng kaniyang sariling laman.
6 It's better to earn a little without stress than a lot with too much stress and chasing after the wind.
Maigi ang isang dakot na may katahimikan, kay sa dalawang dakot na may kahirapan at walang kabuluhan.
7 Then I turned to consider something else here on earth that is also frustratingly hard to understand.
Nang magkagayo'y bumalik ako at aking nakita ang walang kabuluhan sa ilalim ng araw.
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!
May isa na nagiisa, at siya'y walang pangalawa; oo, siya'y walang anak o kapatid man; gayon ma'y walang wakas sa lahat niyang gawa, ni nasisiyahan man ang kaniyang mga mata sa mga kayamanan. Dahil kanino nga, sabi niya, nagpapagal ako, at binabawahan ko ang aking kaluluwa ng mabuti? Ito man ay walang kabuluhan, oo, mahirap na damdam.
9 Two are better than one, for they can help each other in their work.
Dalawa ay maigi kay sa isa; sapagka't sila'y may mabuting kagantihan sa kanilang gawa.
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.
Sapagka't kung sila'y mabuwal, ibabangon ng isa ang kaniyang kasama; nguni't sa aba niya, na nagiisa pagka siya'y nabuwal, at walang iba na magbangon sa kaniya.
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.
Muli, kung ang dalawa ay mahigang magkasama, may init nga sila: nguni't paanong makapagpapainit ang isa na nagiisa?
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.
At kung ang isang tao ay manaig laban sa kaniya na nagiisa, ang dalawa ay makalalaban sa kaniya; at ang panaling tatlong ikid ay hindi napapatid na madali.
13 A poor young person who's wise is better than an old and foolish king who no longer accepts advice.
Maigi ang dukha at pantas na bata kay sa matanda at mangmang na hari, na hindi nakakaalam ng pagtanggap ng payo pa.
14 He may even come out of prison to reign over his kingdom, even though he was born poor.
Sapagka't mula sa bilangguan ay lumabas siya upang maghari; oo, sa kaniyang kaharian nga ay ipinanganak siyang dukha.
15 I observed everyone here on earth following the youth who takes his place.
Aking nakita ang lahat na may buhay, na nagsisilakad sa ilalim ng araw, na sila'y kasama ng bata, ng ikalawa, na tumatayo na kahalili niya.
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.
Walang wakas sa lahat ng bayan, sa makatuwid baga'y sa lahat na pinaghaharian niya: gayon ma'y silang darating pagkatapos ay hindi mangagagalak sa kaniya. Tunay na ito man ay walang kabuluhan at nauuwi sa wala.
