Ecclesiastes 4
1 I thought some more about all the suffering that people are caused to experience on the earth [MTY]. I saw the tears of people who were (oppressed/treated cruelly) and who had no one to comfort/encourage them. Those who oppressed them had power, and there was absolutely no one who was able to comfort those who were being oppressed.
Dia hitako koa ny fampahoriana rehetra atao atỳ ambanin’ ny masoandro; ary indro ny ranomason’ ny ampahorina, sady tsy nisy mpanony azy; ary loza no ataon’ ny tanan’ ny mpampahory azy, sady tsy nisy mpanony.
2 [So] I thought that those who are already dead are more fortunate than those who are still alive.
Ary ny maty izay efa maty ela dia nataoko ho sambatra noho ny velona izay mbola velona,
3 And those who have not been born yet are more fortunate than those who are still alive and those who have died, [because] those who have not been born have not seen all the evil things that are done on the earth.
nefa tsara indray noho izy roa tonta aza ny tsy ary, izay tsy nahita ny ratsy atao atỳ ambanin’ ny masoandro akory.
4 I also thought about all the hard work that people do and the skills that they have. And I thought about how they compete with each other because they are envious of others, [and I concluded that] this also is something that is not accomplishing anything useful, [like] chasing the wind.
Ary hitako ny fisasarana rehetra sy ny fahaizan-javatra rehetra, fa avy amin’ ny fifampialonan’ ny olona izany. Zava-poana sy misambo-drivotra foana koa izany.
5 Foolish people [refuse to work]; they sit idly, with their hands folded, [and do not work]. [So] they ruin themselves.
Ny adala manohon-tanana ka homana ny tenany.
6 [So I say], “It is better to be content with not having much money, than to work very hard and try to get a lot of money, which is [as useless as] chasing the wind.”
Tsara ny eran-tànan’ ila misy fiadanana noho ny eran-tànan-droa misy fisasarana sady misambo-drivotra foana.
7 I thought about something else that happens on the earth [MTY] that seems senseless.
Ary izao koa no zava-poana hitako atỳ ambanin’ ny masoandro:
8 There are men who live alone; they do not have a wife or children or any brothers living with them; every day they work [very hard], without stopping, to get a lot of money, but they are never satisfied with the things that they have. They never ask [themselves], “Why am I working very hard to earn more money? Why am I not doing things that would cause me to be happy?” What they do also seems senseless.
Misy mitoetra irery ka tsy mana-namana, eny, tsy manan-janaka na rahalahy aza, nefa tsy misy farany ny fisasarany rehetra, ary ny masony tsy afa-po amin’ ny harena, hanaovany hoe: Ho an’ iza no isasarako sy tsy ampananako soa ny fanahiko? Zava-poana sy asa mahareraka koa izany.
9 Having someone [work] with you is better than being by yourself [all the time]. If you have a friend, he can help you to do your work.
Tsara ny roa noho ny iray; fa misy valiny tsara ny fisasarany.
10 If you fall down, he can help you get up again. But if you fall down when you are alone, it will be difficult for you, because there will be no one to help you stand up.
Raha misy lavo izy, dia arenin’ ny namany; fa mahantra ny lavo izay tsy manana namana hanarina azy.
11 Similarly, if two people sleep together, they can keep each other warm. But someone who sleeps alone will certainly not [RHQ] be warm.
Ary koa, raha miara-mandry ny roa, dia mafana izy; fa hatao ahoana no hampahafana ny irery?
12 Someone who is alone can easily be attacked and defeated by another person, but two people can help each other and (resist/defend themselves against) someone who attacks them. [Three people can defend themselves even more easily], [like] a rope that is made from three cords is harder to break [than a rope made from two cords].
Raha misy maharesy ny irery aza, ny roa tsy ho leony tsy akory; ary ny mahazaka telo olana tsy mora tapahina.
13 A young man who is poor but wise is a better person than a foolish old king who refuses to pay attention when people try to give him good advice.
Aleo zatovo malahelo hendry toy izay mpanjaka antitra adala ka tsy laitra anarina intsony;
14 It is possible for a young man like that to succeed and some day become king, even if his parents were poor or even if he was in prison some of the time.
fa avy ao an-tranomaizina no nivoahany hanjaka, na dia nateraka tamin’ alahelo tamin’ ny fanjakany aza izy.
15 But then some other young man becomes king, and everyone (starts to support/is pleased with) him.
Hitako ny miaina rehetra izay miriaria atỳ ambanin’ ny masoandro manotrona ilay zazalahy dia ilay faharoa izay mitsangana handimby ny teo.
16 Large crowds of people crowd around him. But after a few years, they will reject him, [too]. So it is all senseless, [like] chasing after the wind.
Tsy hita isa ny olona rehetra, dia izay rehetra anjakany; nefa izay any aoriana tsy mba hifaly aminy; fa zava-poana sy misambo-drivotra foana koa izany.
