Eklezyas 4
1 Konsa, mwen te gade ankò sou tout zèv k ap oprime moun anba solèy la. Epi gade byen, mwen te wè dlo nan zye a oprime yo, e yo pa t jwenn pèsòn pou bay yo soulajman. Sou kote a sila ki t ap oprime yo, te gen gwo pouvwa; men, yo pa t jwenn pèsòn pou bay yo soulajman.
Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power, but they had no comforter.
2 Pou sa, mwen te felisite tout sila ki fin mouri deja yo, olye sila k ap viv yo.
Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive;
3 Men pi beni pase tou de nan yo se sila ki pa t janm egziste a, ki pa t wè tout mechanste ki konn fèt anba solèy la.
yea, better than them both [did I esteem] him which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4 Mwen konn wè tout zèv ak tout metye ki konn fèt, fèt akoz lanvi antre yon nonm ak vwazen li. Sa anplis se vanite ak fè lachas dèyè van.
Then I saw all labour and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
5 Moun ensanse a pliye men l e manje pwòp chè li.
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
6 Yon men plen repo se miyò ke de ponyèt plen travay k ap fè kòve dèyè van an.
Better is an handful with quietness, than two handfuls with labour and striving after wind.
7 Konsa mwen te gade ankò sou vanite anba solèy la.
Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
8 Te gen yon sèten mesye san fanmi ki pa t genyen ni fis, ni frè. Sepandan, nan travay li, pa t gen repo menm. Anverite, zye li pa t janm satisfè ak richès, men li pa t janm kon mande: “Epi pou ki moun m ap travay e prive tèt mwen de plezi konsa?” Sa, anplis se vanite, e sa se yon kòve ki plen doulè.
There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches. For whom then, [saith he], do I labour, and deprive my soul of good? This also is vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
9 De moun pi bon pase yon sèl, paske y ap jwenn bon benefis pou travay yo.
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
10 Paske si youn nan yo ta tonbe, lòt la va leve pare li. Men malè a sila ki tonbe lè nanpwen lòt pou fè l leve a.
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up.
11 Anplis, si de moun kouche ansanm, youn chofe lòt; men ki jan yon sèl moun ta ka chofe?
Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth: but how can one be warm [alone]?
12 Anplis, si youn ka venk sila ki sèl la, de ka reziste ak li; epi yon kòd fèt ak twa fil ap mal pou chire.
And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13 Yon jennjan ki malere men ki gen sajès, miyò pase yon ansyen wa ki ensanse, e ki pa konn resevwa konsèy.
Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.
14 Paske li te sòti nan prizon pou vin wa, malgre li te fèt malere nan wayòm li an.
For out of prison he came forth to be king; yea, even in his kingdom he was born poor.
15 Mwen te wè tout sa k ap viv anba solèy la kouri bò kote dezyèm jennjan ki ranplase li an.
I saw all the living which walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the second, that stood up in his stead.
16 Pèp la p ap janm fini; tout moun ki te avan yo, ni sila k ap vini pita yo p ap kontan avèk li. Anverite, sa osi se vanite ak kouri dèyè van.
There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
