Nyagblɔla 6
1 Ke meganya nu tso nya sesẽ aɖe ŋu le afi sia afi.
There is another evil I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily upon mankind:
2 Nya siae nye Mawu tsɔ kesinɔnu geɖe kple bubu na ame aɖewo, ale be woate ŋu akpɔ nu sia nu si wodi la, ke mena lãmesesẽ wo be woaɖu agbe kple nu siawo o. Wokuna, eye ame bubuwo sãa xɔa kesinɔnu siawo katã! Nu sia nye nu masɔmasɔ, tofloko kple vodada gã aɖe.
God gives a man riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires; but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a grievous affliction.
3 Ne viŋutsu alafa ɖeka kple vinyɔnu alafa ɖeka anɔ ame aɖe si, eye wòatsi axɔ ƒe geɖe, gake ga si wòagblẽ ɖi hafi aku la le sue ale gbegbe be viawo mate ŋu aɖii, ade bubu eŋu o la, mele egblɔm be anyo nɛ wu ne eku le eƒe dzigbe,
A man may father a hundred children and live for many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he is unsatisfied with his prosperity and does not even receive a proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.
4 elabena togbɔ be eƒe dzidzi anye tofloko le ɣe ma ɣi, eye wòawu enu le viviti me, eye womatsɔ ŋkɔ nɛ gɔ̃ hã o,
For a stillborn child enters in futility and departs in darkness, and his name is shrouded in obscurity.
5 makpɔ ɣe kpɔ o, eye manya be ɣe li gɔ̃ hã o la, anyo nɛ alea sãa wu be wòava zu amegãɖeɖi si makpɔ dzidzɔ aɖeke o.
The child, though neither seeing the sun nor knowing anything, has more rest than that man,
6 Ne ame aɖe anɔ agbe ƒe akpe ɖeka zi eve gake makpɔ dzidzeme aɖeke o la, ekema viɖe kae le eƒe agbenɔnɔ ŋu?
even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?
7 Ame ƒe sreɖidzedzewo katã ku ɖe eƒe nuɖuɖu ko ŋu, ke meɖia ƒo ɣe aɖeke ɣi o.
All a man’s labor is for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied.
8 Nu kae nunyala tsɔ nyo wu bometsila? Viɖe kae ame dahe kpɔna ne enya ale si wòalé eɖokui le amewo ŋkume?
What advantage, then, has the wise man over the fool? What gain comes to the poor man who knows how to conduct himself before others?
9 Nukpɔkpɔ kple ŋku nyo wu nudzroame ƒe tsaglalãtsatsa le susu me. Drɔ̃ekuku dzodzro le nu nyuiwo ŋu nye bometsitsi eye wòganye dagbadagba ɖe yame ko.
Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
10 Dzɔgbesee ɖoa nu sia nu dana ɖi; woɖo nu sia nu si ame ava zu la da ɖi xoxo eya ta viɖe aɖeke mele nyahehe kple Mawu tso ale si wòwɔ wo la ŋu o.
Whatever exists was named long ago, and what happens to a man is foreknown; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he.
11 Ne wò nyawo sɔ gbɔ la, gɔmesese geɖe manɔ wo ŋu o, ekema nu ka ta nàɖe fu na ɖokuiwò be yeaƒo nu kura?
For the more words, the more futility—and how does that profit anyone?
12 Le míaƒe agbemeŋkeke ʋɛ siawo me la, ame ka ate ŋu agblɔ ale si ame nawɔ eƒe ŋkekewo ŋu dɔ nyuie? Ame ka ate ŋu anya nu si ava nye nyuitɔ le ŋgɔgbea ne amea nu va yi? Elabena ame kae nya etsɔ me?
For who knows what is good for a man during the few days in which he passes through his fleeting life like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will come after him under the sun?
