Ecclesiastes 5
1 Guard thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be ready to hearken: it is better than when fools give sacrifices; for they know not that they do evil.
Linda hatua zako uendapo katika nyumba ya Mungu. Karibia usikilize kuliko kutoa dhabihu ya wapumbavu, ambao hawajui kuwa wanafanya kosa.
2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter a word before God; for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth; therefore let thy words be few.
Usiwe mwepesi kuzungumza, usiwe na haraka katika moyo wako kuzungumza lolote mbele za Mungu. Mungu yuko mbinguni nawe uko duniani, kwa hiyo maneno yako na yawe machache.
3 For a dream cometh through a multitude of business; and a fool's voice through a multitude of words.
Kama vile ndoto huja wakati kuna shughuli nyingi, ndivyo yalivyo mazungumzo ya mpumbavu wakati kuna maneno mengi.
4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for He hath no pleasure in fools; pay that which thou vowest.
Wakati unapomwekea Mungu nadhiri, usikawie kuitimiza. Yeye hafurahii wapumbavu; timiza nadhiri yako.
5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
Ni afadhali usiweke nadhiri kuliko kuiweka na usiitimize.
6 Suffer not thy mouth to bring thy flesh into guilt, neither say thou before the messenger, that it was an error; wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands?
Usiruhusu kinywa chako kukuingiza dhambini. Tena usijitetee mbele ya huyo mjumbe wa hekaluni, ukisema, “Niliweka nadhiri kwa makosa.” Kwa nini Mungu akasirike kwa ajili ya yale unayosema na kuiharibu kazi ya mikono yako?
7 For through the multitude of dreams and vanities there are also many words; but fear thou God.
Kuota ndoto kwingi na maneno mengi ni ubatili. Kwa hiyo simama katika kicho cha Mungu.
8 If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent perverting of justice and righteousness in the state, marvel not at the matter; for one higher than the high watcheth, and there are higher than they.
Kama ukiona maskini wanaonewa katika nchi, hukumu na haki vikipotoshwa, usishangazwe na mambo hayo, kwa maana afisa mmoja anaangaliwa na aliye juu yake zaidi na juu ya hao wawili kuna wengine walio juu zaidi yao.
9 But the profit of a land every way is a king that maketh himself servant to the field.
Mafanikio ya nchi ni kwa ajili ya wote, hata mfalme mwenyewe hufaidi kutoka mashambani.
10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance, with increase; this also is vanity.
Yeyote apendaye fedha kamwe hatosheki na fedha; yeyote apendaye utajiri kamwe hatosheki na kipato chake. Hili nalo pia ni ubatili.
11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what advantage is there to the owner thereof, saving the beholding of them with his eyes?
Mali ikiongezeka, ndivyo walaji wanavyoongezeka. Hii nayo inamfaidia nini mwenye mali isipokuwa ni kushibisha macho yake?
12 Sweet is the sleep of a labouring man, whether he eat little or much; but the satiety of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
Usingizi wa kibarua ni mtamu, awe amekula kidogo au kingi, lakini wingi wa mali humnyima tajiri usingizi.
13 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept by the owner thereof to his hurt;
Nimeshaona uovu mzito chini ya jua: Utajiri uliolimbikizwa kwa kujinyima na kuleta madhara kwa mwenye mali,
14 and those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.
au utajiri uliopotea kwa bahati mbaya, hivyo kwamba wakati akiwa na mwana hakuna chochote kilichobaki kwa ajili yake.
15 As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he go back as he came, and shall take nothing for his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
Mtu hutoka tumboni mwa mama yake uchi, naye jinsi alivyokuja vivyo hivyo huondoka. Hachukui chochote kutokana na kazi yake ambacho anaweza kukibeba mkononi mwake.
16 And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go; and what profit hath he that he laboureth for the wind?
Hili nalo ni baya la kusikitisha: Kama vile mtu ajavyo, vivyo hivyo huondoka, naye anapata faida gani, maadamu hutaabika kwa ajili ya upepo?
17 All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much vexation and sickness and wrath.
Siku zake zote hula gizani, pamoja na fadhaa kubwa, mateso na hasira.
18 Behold that which I have seen: it is good, yea, it is comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy pleasure for all his labour, wherein he laboureth under the sun, all the days of his life which God hath given him; for this is his portion.
Ndipo nikatambua kwamba ni vyema na sahihi kwa mtu kula na kunywa na kutosheka katika kazi yake ngumu chini ya jua katika siku chache za maisha yake Mungu alizompa, kwa maana hili ndilo fungu lake.
19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour — this is the gift of God.
Zaidi ya yote, Mungu anapompa mtu yeyote utajiri na milki, humwezesha kuvifurahia, kukubali fungu lake na kuwa na furaha katika kazi yake, hii ni karama ya Mungu.
20 For let him remember the days of his life that they are not many; for God answereth him in the joy of his heart.
Mara chache mtu huzifikiri siku za maisha yake, kwa sababu Mungu humfanya ashikwe na furaha ya moyoni.
