Mosakoli 4
1 Natalaki lisusu mpe namonaki minyoko nyonso oyo ezali na se ya moyi: Namonaki mpinzoli ya banyokolami, mpe moto akobondisa bango azalaki te; nguya ezalaki na ngambo ya banyokoli, mpe moto akobondisa bango azalaki te.
Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no comforter.
2 Yango wana, namonaki ete bato oyo basila kokufa kala bazali na bango kutu malamu koleka bato oyo bazali nanu na bomoi.
So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.
3 Mpe moto oyo atikala nanu kozala te azali malamu koleka bango mibale, pamba te atikala nanu komona te misala mabe oyo esalemaka na se ya moyi.
But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.
4 Namoni ete pasi nyonso oyo bato bamonaka na mosala mpe lokumu oyo bazwaka na misala na bango, ewutaka kaka na bilulela ya moto liboso ya moninga na ye. Wana mpe ezali pamba, ezali lokola moto azali kolanda mopepe.
I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
5 Moto oyo azangi mayele akangaka maboko na ye mpe amibebisaka ye moko.
The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.
6 Loboko moko oyo etondi na kimia ezali malamu koleka maboko mibale oyo etondi na misala makasi mpe na kolanda mopepe.
Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.
7 Namonaki lisusu likambo mosusu ya pamba na se ya moyi:
Again, I saw futility under the sun.
8 Ezalaki na moto moko oyo azalaki kaka ye moko, azalaki ata na mwana to ndeko te; azalaki kopema te na mosala na ye ya makasi, kasi bomengo na ye etikalaki te kotondisa miso na ye. Mpe atikalaki komituna te: « Nani oyo ngai nazali komonela pasi boye? Mpe mpo na nini nazali komipimela bomengo? » Wana mpe lisusu ezali pamba: ezali mosala ya mpunda!
There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.
9 Bato mibale bazali malamu koleka moto moko, pamba te bakozwa lifuti ya malonga na mosala na bango.
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.
10 Soki moko akweyi, moninga na ye akoki kosunga ye; kasi mawa na moto oyo akweyi mpe azangi moto oyo akosunga ye!
For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!
11 Mpe lisusu, soki bato mibale balali esika moko, bayokaka moto; kasi moto oyo azali ye moko, ndenge nini akoki koyoka moto?
Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?
12 Soki moto azali ye moko, monguna akoki kolonga ye; kasi soki bato bazali mibale, bakoki kotelemela monguna. Kamba ya basinga misato ekatanaka noki te.
And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
13 Elenge mobola ya mayele azali malamu koleka mokonzi ya mobange oyo azangi mayele mpe ayokaka toli te;
Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.
14 ezala soki elenge mobali yango abotama mobola kati na mokili na ye to awuti kobima na boloko mpo na kokoma mokonzi.
For the youth has come from the prison to the kingship, though he was born poor in his own kingdom.
15 Namonaki bato nyonso ya bomoi, oyo bazali kotambola na se ya moyi kolanda elenge mobali lokola mokitani ya mokonzi.
I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed this second one, the youth who succeeded the king.
16 Ata soki bato oyo bazalaki kosepela na ye bazalaki ebele koleka, kasi bato oyo bakoya sima bakoki koboya ye. Yango mpe ezali pamba, ezali lokola moto azali kolanda mopepe.
There is no limit to all the people who were before them. Yet the successor will not be celebrated by those who come even later. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
