Ecclesiastes 8
1 Who can compare to the truly wise? Who knows how to interpret things? If you have wisdom your face lights up, and your stern look is softened.
O WAI ka mea i like me ka mea naauao? Owai ka mea i ike i ka hoakaka ana i ka olelo? Ka naanao o ke kanaka, oia ka mea e oluolu ai kona maka, a ua hala kona maka haaheo.
2 My advice is to do what the king says, since that's what you promised God.
Ke ao aku nei au ia oe, e malama i ke kanawai o ke alii, no ka hoohiki ana i ke Akua.
3 Don't be quick to walk out on the king without thinking what you're doing, and don't get involved with those who plot against him, for the king can do what he pleases.
Mai wikiwiki oe i kou hele ana mai kona alo aku: mai kupaa oe ma ka mea ino; no ka mea, ke hana la ia i na mea a pau loa ana i makemake ai.
4 The king's orders have supreme authority—who is going to question him, saying, “What are you doing?”
Ma ka olelo a ke alii, aia no ka mana; a owai la ka mea e hiki ke olelo aku ia ia, Heaha kau i hana'i?
5 Those who follow his commands will not be involved in doing evil. Wise people think, recognizing there's a right time, and a right way.
O ka mea malama i ke kanawai, aole ia e ike i ka mea ino; a o ka naau o ka mea akamai, ua ike ia i ka manawa a me ka hoopono.
6 For there's a right time and a right way for everything, even when things are going badly for you.
No ka mea, aia no i na mea a pau he wa no, a me ka hoopono; a ua nui ke kaumaha maluna o ke kanaka.
7 No one knows what's going to happen, so who can say what the future holds?
No ka mea. aole ia i ike i ka mea e hiki mai ana; a o ka wa e hiki mai ai, owai la ka mea e hiki ke hai aku ia ia?
8 No one can hold onto the breath of life; no one can prevent the day when they die. There's no way of escaping that battle, and the wicked won't be saved by their wickedness!
Aohe kanaka e hiki ke malama i ka hanu a paa ia, aohe mea ikaika i ka la e make ai; aole hoi i hookuuia kekahi mai keia kaua aku; aole nae e hoopakele ka hewa i ka poe hewa.
9 I examined all these things, and thought about all that happens here on earth, and the damage that's caused when people dominate others.
Ua ike au i keia mau mea a pau, a halalo kuu naau i na hana a pau i hanaia malalo iho o ka la, aia i kekahi wa no e alii ai kekahi kanaka maluna o kekahi i mea e poino ai oia iho.
10 Yes, I have seen wicked people buried with great honor. They used to go to the holy place, and were praised in the very city where they did their evil. This is hard to understand!
A pela no, ua ike au i ke kanuia o ka poe hewa, ua hele lakou iloko o kahi hemolele, a hoi mai, a ua poina lakou ma ke kulanakauhale, kahi a lakou i hana'i pela. He mea lapuwale keia.
11 When people are not punished quickly for their crimes they are even more determined to do wrong.
No ka hooko koke ole ia mai o ka olelo hoahewa i ka hana ino; no ia mea, ua paa loa ka naau o na keiki a kanaka e hana hewa.
12 Even though a sinner may do wrong a hundred times, and live a long life, I'm convinced that those who do what God says will be better off.
Ina e hana ino ka mea hewa, pahaneri ka hana ana, a ua hooloihiia kona mau la, ua ike no au, ua pomaikai ka poe makau i ke Akua, ka poe makau imua ona.
13 In fact, the wicked will not live long, passing like a shadow, because they refuse to follow God.
Aole e pomaikai ka mea hewa, aole nae ia e hooloihi i kona mau la, no ka mea, me he aka la ka mea i makau ole imua i ke alo o ke Akua.
14 Another thing that is hard to understand is this: good people are treated as the wicked should be, and the wicked are treated as good people should be. As I say, this is difficult to comprehend!
Eia kekahi mea lapuwale i hanaia ma ka honua; aia no kekahi poe pono, a ua ili wale ia lakou e like me ka hana a ka poe hewa, a aia hoi ka poe hewa, ua ili wale ia lakou e like me ka hana a ka poe pono. I iho la au, he mea lapuwale keia.
15 So I recommend enjoying life. There's nothing better for us here on earth than to eat and drink and be happy. Such an attitude will go with us as we work, and as we live our lives that God gives us here on earth.
Alaila, mahalo iho la au i ka olioli, no ka mea, aohe mea maikai i ke kanaka malalo iho o ka la i oi aku i ka ai ana, i ka inu, a me ka olioli; he mea mau keia ia ia no kana haua, i na la o kona ola ana a ke Akua i haawi mai ai ia ia malalo iho o ka la.
16 When I applied my mind to discovering wisdom and observing everything people do here on earth, I couldn't get any sleep, day or night.
Alaila, haawi ae la au i ko'u naau e ike i ka naauao, a e ike hoi i ka mea i hanaia ma ka honua; no ka mea, aia no kekahi mea i pili ole ai kona mau maka i ka hiamoe i ka po a me ke ao:
17 Then I studied everything God does, and I realized that no one can fully understand what happens here. However, hard they try, however wise they claim to be, they can't really comprehend it.
A ike iho la au i na hana a pau a ke Akua, no ka mea, aole hiki i ke kanaka ke hoomaopopo i na hana i hanaia malalo iho o ka la; oiaio hoi, ina e hooikaika ke kanaka e imi, aole nae i maopopo, ina e olelo ka mea naauao e ike ia, aole nae e hiki ia ia ke hoomaopopo aku.
