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.
Then I turned to consider all the ways people oppress others here on earth. Look at the tears of the oppressed—there's no one to comfort them! Powerful people oppress them, and there's no one to comfort them!
2 Yango wana, namonaki ete bato oyo basila kokufa kala bazali na bango kutu malamu koleka bato oyo bazali nanu na bomoi.
I congratulated those who were already dead, for the dead are better off than those who are still alive and being oppressed.
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 best of all are those who have never existed—they haven't seen the evil things people do to each other here on earth.
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 observed that every skill in work comes from competition with others. Once again this is hard to understand, like trying to hold on to the elusive wind.
5 Moto oyo azangi mayele akangaka maboko na ye mpe amibebisaka ye moko.
Fools fold their arms and do nothing—so in the end they're all used up.
6 Loboko moko oyo etondi na kimia ezali malamu koleka maboko mibale oyo etondi na misala makasi mpe na kolanda mopepe.
It's better to earn a little without stress than a lot with too much stress and chasing after the wind.
7 Namonaki lisusu likambo mosusu ya pamba na se ya moyi:
Then I turned to consider something else here on earth that is also frustratingly hard to understand.
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!
What about someone who has no family to help him, no brother or son, who works all the time, but isn't satisfied with the money he makes. “Who am I working for?” he asks himself. “Why am I preventing myself from enjoying life?” Such a situation is hard to explain—it's an evil business!
9 Bato mibale bazali malamu koleka moto moko, pamba te bakozwa lifuti ya malonga na mosala na bango.
Two are better than one, for they can help each other in their work.
10 Soki moko akweyi, moninga na ye akoki kosunga ye; kasi mawa na moto oyo akweyi mpe azangi moto oyo akosunga ye!
If one of them falls down, the other can help them up, but how sad it is for someone who falls down and doesn't have anyone to help them up.
11 Mpe lisusu, soki bato mibale balali esika moko, bayokaka moto; kasi moto oyo azali ye moko, ndenge nini akoki koyoka moto?
In the same way, if two people lie down together, they keep each other warm, but you can't keep yourself warm if you're 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.
Someone fighting against one other person may win, but not if they are fighting against two. A cord made of three strands can't be torn apart quickly.
13 Elenge mobola ya mayele azali malamu koleka mokonzi ya mobange oyo azangi mayele mpe ayokaka toli te;
A poor young person who's wise is better than an old and foolish king who no longer accepts advice.
14 ezala soki elenge mobali yango abotama mobola kati na mokili na ye to awuti kobima na boloko mpo na kokoma mokonzi.
He may even come out of prison to reign over his kingdom, even though he was born poor.
15 Namonaki bato nyonso ya bomoi, oyo bazali kotambola na se ya moyi kolanda elenge mobali lokola mokitani ya mokonzi.
I observed everyone here on earth following the youth who takes his place.
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.
He is surrounded by crowds of supporters, but the next generation isn't happy with him. This also illustrates the passing nature of life whose meaning is elusive, like pursuing the wind for understanding.
