Ecclesiastes 4
1 Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
Bio, mehwɛ mehunuu nhyɛsoɔ a ɛrekɔ so wɔ owia yi ase: Mehunuu wɔn a wɔredi wɔn nya no nisuo na wɔnni ɔwerɛkyekyefoɔ biara; tumi no wɔ wɔn nhyɛsofoɔ no nsam na wɔnni ɔwerɛkyekyefoɔ biara.
2 Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.
Na mekaa sɛ: Awufoɔ a wɔawuwu dada no ani gye sene ateasefoɔ; wɔn a wɔda so wɔ nkwa mu no.
3 Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
Na deɛ ɔyɛ sene baanu yi ne deɛ ɔnnya mmaeɛ, deɛ ɔnnya nhunuu bɔne a wɔyɛ wɔ owia yi ase.
4 Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Na mehunuu sɛ adwumayɛ mu ɔbrɛ ne deɛ onipa tumi yɛ nyinaa nnyinasoɔ ne sɛ, nʼani bere ne yɔnko. Yei nso yɛ ahuhudeɛ, mmirika a wɔtu taa mframa.
5 The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.
Ɔkwasea bobɔ ne nsa gu ne ho na ɔsɛe ne ho.
6 Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.
Nsa ma baako a asomdwoeɛ wɔ mu yɛ sene nsa ma mmienu a ɔbrɛ bata ho. Ɛte sɛ deɛ wotaa mframa.
7 Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
Afei nso mehunuu biribi a ɛnka hwee wɔ owia yi ase:
8 There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then do I labor and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.
Na ɔbarima bi wɔ hɔ a ɔyɛ ankonam; ɔnni ɔbabarima anaa onuabarima. Nʼadwumaden amma nʼawieeɛ da, nanso nʼani ansɔ nʼahonya. Ɔbisaa ne ho sɛ, “Na hwan na merebrɛ ama no, na adɛn enti na mede anigyeɛ kame me kra?” Yei nso yɛ ahuhudeɛ, ɛyɛ ɔhaw kwa.
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
Baanu yɛ sene ɔbaakofoɔ, ɛfiri sɛ wɔnya wɔn adwumayɛ so mfasoɔ a ɛsɔ ani:
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift him up.
Sɛ ɔbaako hwe ase a ne yɔnko bɛtumi aboa no. Nanso onipa a ɔhwe ase a ɔnni ɔboafoɔ no yɛ mmɔbɔ.
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone?
Bio, sɛ baanu da bɔ mu a, wɔka wɔn ho hye. Na ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na ɔkɔntenkorɔ aka ne ho hye?
12 If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ɔbaakofoɔ deɛ, wɔbɛtumi aka no ahyɛ nanso baanu tumi pere wɔn ti. Homa a wɔawɔ no mmɛsa no, wɔntumi ntete mu ntɛm.
13 Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more.
Ɔbabunu nyansafoɔ a ɔdi hia yɛ sene ɔhene akɔkoraa a ɔyɛ kwasea na ɔntie kɔkɔbɔ bio.
14 For out of prison he came out to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor.
Ebia na ɔbabunu no firi nneduafie na ɔbɛdii adeɛ anaasɛ wɔwoo no too ohia mu wɔ adehyeɛ abusua mu.
15 I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him.
Mehunuu sɛ wɔn a wɔtenaa ase na wɔnantee owia yi ase nyinaa dii ɔbabunu no akyi, deɛ ɔdii ɔhene no adeɛ no.
16 There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was—yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
Nnipa dɔm a wɔntumi nkane wɔn dii nʼakyi. Nanso nkyirimma no ani annye ne ho. Yei nso yɛ ahuhudeɛ, ɛte sɛ wotaa mframa.
