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.
Once again I thought about all the oppression that is done under the sun. And behold, the tears of oppressed people, and they had no one to comfort them! Power was in the hand of their oppressors, and there was 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.
So I considered those who are already dead more fortunate than 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.
However, more fortunate than both of them is the one who has not yet lived, the one who has not seen any of the evil acts that are 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.
Then I saw that every act of labor and every skillful work became the envy of one's neighbor. This also is vapor and an attempt to shepherd the wind.
5 Moto oyo azangi mayele akangaka maboko na ye mpe amibebisaka ye moko.
The fool folds his hands and does not work, so his food is his own flesh.
6 Loboko moko oyo etondi na kimia ezali malamu koleka maboko mibale oyo etondi na misala makasi mpe na kolanda mopepe.
But better is a handful of profit with quiet work than two handfuls with the work that tries to shepherd the wind.
7 Namonaki lisusu likambo mosusu ya pamba na se ya moyi:
Then I thought again about more futility, more vanishing vapor 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 the kind of man who is alone. He does not have anyone, no son or brother. There is no end to all his work, and his eyes are not satisfied with gaining wealth. He wonders, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vapor, a bad situation.
9 Bato mibale bazali malamu koleka moto moko, pamba te bakozwa lifuti ya malonga na mosala na bango.
Two people work better than one; together they can earn a good pay 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, the other can lift up his friend. However, sorrow follows the one who is alone when he falls if there is no one to lift him up.
11 Mpe lisusu, soki bato mibale balali esika moko, bayokaka moto; kasi moto oyo azali ye moko, ndenge nini akoki koyoka moto?
If two lie down together, they can be warm, but how can one be 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.
One man alone can be overpowered, but two can withstand an attack, and a three-strand rope is not quickly broken.
13 Elenge mobola ya mayele azali malamu koleka mokonzi ya mobange oyo azangi mayele mpe ayokaka toli te;
It is better to be a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to listen to warnings.
14 ezala soki elenge mobali yango abotama mobola kati na mokili na ye to awuti kobima na boloko mpo na kokoma mokonzi.
This is true even if the young man becomes king from prison, or even if he was born poor in his kingdom.
15 Namonaki bato nyonso ya bomoi, oyo bazali kotambola na se ya moyi kolanda elenge mobali lokola mokitani ya mokonzi.
I saw everyone who was alive and was walking around under the sun, along with a youth who was to rise up to take 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.
There is no end to all the people who want to obey the new king, but later many of them will no longer praise him. Surely this situation is vapor and an attempt to shepherd the wind.
