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!
Bio, mehwɛ mihuu nhyɛso a ɛrekɔ so wɔ owia yi ase: Mihuu wɔn a wɔredi wɔn nya no nusu na wonni ɔwerɛkyekyefo biara; tumi no wɔ wɔn nhyɛsofo no nsam na wonni ɔwerɛkyekyefo biara.
2 I congratulated those who were already dead, for the dead are better off than those who are still alive and being oppressed.
Na mekae se: Awufo a wɔawuwu dedaw no, ani gye sen ateasefo; wɔn a wɔda so wɔ nkwa mu no.
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.
Na nea oye sen baanu yi ne nea onnya mmae, nea onnya nhuu bɔne a wɔyɛ wɔ owia yi ase.
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.
Na mihuu sɛ adwumayɛ mu ɔbrɛ ne nea onipa tumi yɛ nyinaa nnyinaso ne sɛ nʼani bere ne yɔnko. Eyi nso yɛ ahuhude, mmirika a wotu taa mframa.
5 Fools fold their arms and do nothing—so in the end they're all used up.
Ɔkwasea bobɔw ne nsa gu ne ho na ɔsɛe ne ho.
6 It's better to earn a little without stress than a lot with too much stress and chasing after the wind.
Nsammua baako a asomdwoe wɔ mu ye sen nsammua abien a ɔbrɛ bata ho; ɛte sɛ nea wotaa mframa.
7 Then I turned to consider something else here on earth that is also frustratingly hard to understand.
Afei nso mihuu biribi a ɛnka hwee wɔ owia yi ase:
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!
Na ɔbarima bi wɔ hɔ a ɔyɛ ankonam; onni ɔbabarima anaa onuabarima. Nʼadwumaden amma nʼawie da, nanso nʼani ansɔ nʼahonya. Obisaa ne ho se, “Na hena na merebrɛ ama no, na adɛn nti na mede anigye kame me kra?” Eyi nso yɛ ahuhude, ɛyɛ ɔhaw kwa.
9 Two are better than one, for they can help each other in their work.
Baanu ye sen ɔbaakofo, efisɛ wonya wɔn brɛ so mfaso a ɛsɔ ani:
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.
Sɛ ɔbaako hwe ase a ne yɔnko betumi aboa no. Nanso onipa a ɔhwe ase a onni ɔboafo no, yɛ mmɔbɔ.
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.
Bio, sɛ baanu da bɔ mu a wɔka wɔn ho hyew. Na ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na ankonam bɛka ne ho hyew?
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.
Ɔbaakofo de, wobetumi aka no ahyɛ nanso baanu tumi pere wɔn ti. Hama a wɔawɔ no mmɛsa no, wontumi ntetew mu ntɛm.
13 A poor young person who's wise is better than an old and foolish king who no longer accepts advice.
Ɔbabun nyansafo a odi hia ye sen ɔhene akwakoraa a ɔyɛ ɔkwasea na ontie kɔkɔbɔ bio.
14 He may even come out of prison to reign over his kingdom, even though he was born poor.
Ebia na ɔbabun no fi afiase na obedii ade anaasɛ wɔwoo no too ohia mu wɔ adehye abusua mu.
15 I observed everyone here on earth following the youth who takes his place.
Mihuu sɛ wɔn a wɔtenaa ase na wɔnantew owia yi ase nyinaa dii ɔbabun no akyi, nea odii ɔhene no ade no.
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.
Nnipadɔm a wontumi nkan wɔn dii nʼakyi. Nanso nkyirimma no ani annye ne ho. Eyi nso yɛ ahuhude, ɛte sɛ wotaa mframa.
