Mosakoli 3
1 Likambo nyonso ezalaka na tango na yango, mpe mosala nyonso ezalaka na ngonga na yango, na se ya moyi.
For every thing there is a season; and a [proper] time is for every pursuit under the heavens.
2 Ezali na tango ya kobotama mpe tango ya kokufa, tango ya kolona mpe tango ya kopikola oyo elonami;
[There is] a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what hath been planted;
3 tango ya koboma mpe tango ya kobikisa, tango ya kobuka mpe tango ya kotonga;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 tango ya kolela mpe tango ya koseka, tango ya kosala matanga mpe tango ya kobina;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 tango ya kopanza mabanga mpe tango ya kosangisa yango, tango ya kopesa beze mpe tango ya kotika kopesa beze;
A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather up stones; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embracing;
6 tango ya koluka mpe tango ya kobungisa, tango ya kobomba mpe tango ya kobwaka;
A time to seek, and a time to let things be lost; a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
7 tango ya kopasola mpe tango ya kobamba, tango ya kokanga monoko mpe tango ya koloba;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 tango ya kolinga mpe tango ya koyina, tango ya bitumba mpe tango ya kimia.
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
9 Litomba nini mosali azwaka na mosala oyo amonelaka pasi?
What profit hath [now] he that worketh in that wherein he toileth?
10 Natalaki mokumba oyo Nzambe amemisaki bato.
I have seen the employment, which God hath given to the sons of men to busy themselves therewith.
11 Nzambe asalaka eloko na eloko malamu na tango na yango; atiaka lisusu, kati na mitema ya bato, posa ya koyeba mabombami na Ye. Nzokande, bato bakokaka te kososola mosala ya Nzambe, kobanda na ebandeli kino na suka.
Every thing hath he made beautiful in its [proper] time: he hath also placed the eternity in their heart, without a man's being able to find out the work that God hath made from the beginning to the end.
12 Nayebi ete ezali na eloko moko oyo eleki malamu mpo na bato: ezali kaka kosepela mpe kozala malamu tango bazali na bomoi.
I know that there is nothing good [inherent] in them, but for every one to rejoice and to do what is good during [all] his life.
13 Yango wana, tika ete moto na moto alia, amela mpe amona bolamu kati na mosala na ye nyonso, pamba te ezali likabo ya Nzambe.
For also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy what is good for all his toil, is likewise a gift of God.
14 Nayebi ete makambo nyonso oyo Nzambe asalaka ewumelaka seko; boye ezali ata na eloko moko te ya kobakisa na likolo na yango to ya kolongola kati na yango. Nzambe asalaka yango bongo mpo ete bakumisa Ye.
I know that whatsoever God doth, that will be for ever; to it nothing can be added, and from it there is nothing to be diminished: and God hath so made it, that men should be afraid of him.
15 Makambo oyo ezali lelo esila kozala na kala, mpe makambo oyo ekoya ezala wuta kala; Nzambe nde azongisaka makambo oyo esila koleka na tango ya kala.
That which hath been hath long since appeared [again]; and what is to be hath already been; and God seeketh [again] that which is sped away.
16 Namonaki lisusu likambo moko na se ya moyi: ezala na esika oyo basambisaka bato, mabe ezali kaka; ezala na esika ya bosembo, mabe ezangaka te.
And moreover I have seen under the sun, [that in] the place of justice, even there was wickedness; and [that in] the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness.
17 Namilobelaki kati na ngai: « Nzambe akosambisa, ezala bato ya sembo to bato mabe, pamba te ezali na tango mpo na likambo moko na moko, mpe ezali na tango mpo na kosambisa likambo moko na moko. »
I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time for every pursuit; and on account of every deed there [will he judge].
18 Namilobelaki lisusu: « Nzambe amekaka bato mpo ete bakoka komimona bango moko ete bazali lokola banyama.
I said in my heart concerning the speaking of the sons of men, that God might make it clear to them, and that they might see that they by themselves are but beasts.
19 Suka ya moto ezali lokola suka ya nyama: bango mibale basukaka kaka ndenge moko; ndenge moko akufaka, mosusu mpe akufaka kaka bongo. Bango nyonso bazali kaka na pema moko: moto aleki nyama na eloko te. Nyonso wana ezali kaka pamba.
For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even the same thing befalleth them; as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one kind of spirit: so that the preeminence of man above the beast is nought; for all is vanity.
20 Nyonso ekendaka kaka esika moko; nyonso ewutaki na putulu, mpe nyonso ekozonga kaka na putulu.
Every thing goeth unto one place: every thing came from the dust, and every thing returneth to the dust.
21 Nani ayebi soki molimo ya moto emataka na likolo, mpe soki molimo ya nyama ekitaka na se ya mabele? »
Who knoweth the spirit of the sons of man that ascendeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that descendeth downward to the earth?
22 Boye, nasosolaki ete ezali na eloko moko te oyo eleki malamu mpo na moto, soki kaka te kosepela mpe komona bolamu na mosala na ye, pamba te yango nde ezali litomba na ye. Nani akoki kosunga ye mpo ete amona makambo oyo ekoya sima na ye?
And so did I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion; for who can bring him to look with pleasure on what will be after him?
