Omubuulizi 4
1 Ate nalaba okunnyigirizibwa kwonna okukolebwa wansi w’enjuba. Ate laba, amaziga gaabo abanyigirizibwa, era nga tebalina wakugabasangulako! Ababanyigiriza baalina obuyinza, kyokka nga tewali asobola kubagambako.
I turned myself to other things, and I saw the false accusations which are carried out under the sun, and the tears of the innocent, and that there was no one to console them; and that they were not able to withstand their violence, being destitute of all help.
2 Ne ndowooza ku abo abaafa, nga baali ba mukisa okusinga abo abakyali abalamu;
And so, I praised the dead more than the living.
3 naye abasinga abo, y’oyo atannaba kuzaalibwa, atannalaba bibi obukolebwa wansi w’enjuba.
And happier than both of these, I judged him to be, who has not yet been born, and who has not yet seen the evils which are done under the sun.
4 Awo ne ndaba ng’okutegana, n’okutuukiriza mu bikolebwa, kuva mu kukwatirwa obuggya muliraanwa. Na kino butaliimu na kugoberera mpewo.
Again, I was contemplating all the labors of men. And I took notice that their endeavors are open to the envy of their neighbor. And so, in this, too, there is emptiness and superfluous anxiety.
5 Omusirusiru awumba emikono gye, ne yeezikiriza yekka.
The foolish man folds his hands together, and he consumes his own flesh, saying:
6 Kirungi okuba n’emirembe emijjuvu okusinga okujjula okubonaabona n’okugoberera empewo.
“A handful with rest is better than both hands filled with labors and with affliction of the soul.”
7 Ate era ne ndaba obutaliimu wansi w’enjuba:
While considering this, I also discovered another vanity under the sun.
8 nalaba omuntu ng’ali bwannamunigina, nga talina mwana wabulenzi wadde muganda we, naye ng’ategana okukamala, nga tamatira na bugagga bwe, ne yeebuuza nti, “Nteganira ani ne neefiiriza essanyu? Kino nakyo butaliimu, era tekiriiko kye kigasa.”
He is one, and he does not have a second: no son, no brother. And yet he does not cease to labor, nor are his eyes satisfied with wealth, nor does he reflect, saying: “For whom do I labor and cheat my soul of good things?” In this, too, is emptiness and a most burdensome affliction.
9 Ababiri basinga omu, kubanga bagasibwa nnyo mu kukola kwabwe.
Therefore, it is better for two to be together, than for one to be alone. For they have the advantage of their companionship.
10 Kubanga singa omu agwa, munne amuyimusa. Naye zimusanze oyo ali obw’omu, bw’agwa tabaako amuyimusa.
If one falls, he shall be supported by the other. Woe to one who is alone. For when he falls, he has no one to lift him up.
11 Ababiri bwe bagalamira bombi awamu babuguma; naye oyo ali obw’omu, ayinza atya okubuguma?
And if two are sleeping, they warm one another. How can one person alone be warmed?
12 Omu awangulwa mangu, kyokka ababiri bayinza okwerwanako. Kubanga omuguwa ogw’emiyondo esatu tegukutuka mangu.
And if a man can prevail against one, two may withstand him, and a threefold cord is broken with difficulty.
13 Omuvubuka omwavu nga mugezi, akira kabaka amusinga emyaka nga musirusiru, atafaayo ku kubuulirirwa.
Better is a boy, poor and wise, than a king, old and foolish, who does not know to look ahead for the sake of posterity.
14 Omuvubuka ayinza okuba ng’avudde mu kkomera n’alya obwakabaka, oba okulya obwakabaka ng’abadde mwavu.
For sometimes, one goes forth from prison and chains, to a kingdom, while another, born to kingly power, is consumed by need.
15 Nalaba abalamu bonna abatambula wansi w’enjuba nga bagoberera omuvubuka oyo ow’okulya obwakabaka.
I saw all the living who are walking under the sun, and I saw the next generation, who shall rise up in their places.
16 Abantu be yafuganga baali bangi nnyo. Naye abo abajja oluvannyuma lwe tebaamusiima. Na kino nakyo butaliimu na kugoberera mpewo.
The number of people, out of all who existed before these, is boundless. And those who will exist afterwards shall not rejoice in them. But this, too, is emptiness and an affliction of the spirit.
