Mpitoriteny 4
1 Dia hitako koa ny fampahoriana rehetra atao atỳ ambanin’ ny masoandro; ary indro ny ranomason’ ny ampahorina, sady tsy nisy mpanony azy; ary loza no ataon’ ny tanan’ ny mpampahory azy, sady tsy nisy mpanony.
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 Ary ny maty izay efa maty ela dia nataoko ho sambatra noho ny velona izay mbola velona,
I congratulated those who were already dead, for the dead are better off than those who are still alive and being oppressed.
3 nefa tsara indray noho izy roa tonta aza ny tsy ary, izay tsy nahita ny ratsy atao atỳ ambanin’ ny masoandro akory.
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 Ary hitako ny fisasarana rehetra sy ny fahaizan-javatra rehetra, fa avy amin’ ny fifampialonan’ ny olona izany. Zava-poana sy misambo-drivotra foana koa izany.
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 Ny adala manohon-tanana ka homana ny tenany.
Fools fold their arms and do nothing—so in the end they're all used up.
6 Tsara ny eran-tànan’ ila misy fiadanana noho ny eran-tànan-droa misy fisasarana sady misambo-drivotra foana.
It's better to earn a little without stress than a lot with too much stress and chasing after the wind.
7 Ary izao koa no zava-poana hitako atỳ ambanin’ ny masoandro:
Then I turned to consider something else here on earth that is also frustratingly hard to understand.
8 Misy mitoetra irery ka tsy mana-namana, eny, tsy manan-janaka na rahalahy aza, nefa tsy misy farany ny fisasarany rehetra, ary ny masony tsy afa-po amin’ ny harena, hanaovany hoe: Ho an’ iza no isasarako sy tsy ampananako soa ny fanahiko? Zava-poana sy asa mahareraka koa izany.
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 Tsara ny roa noho ny iray; fa misy valiny tsara ny fisasarany.
Two are better than one, for they can help each other in their work.
10 Raha misy lavo izy, dia arenin’ ny namany; fa mahantra ny lavo izay tsy manana namana hanarina azy.
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 Ary koa, raha miara-mandry ny roa, dia mafana izy; fa hatao ahoana no hampahafana ny irery?
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 Raha misy maharesy ny irery aza, ny roa tsy ho leony tsy akory; ary ny mahazaka telo olana tsy mora tapahina.
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 Aleo zatovo malahelo hendry toy izay mpanjaka antitra adala ka tsy laitra anarina intsony;
A poor young person who's wise is better than an old and foolish king who no longer accepts advice.
14 fa avy ao an-tranomaizina no nivoahany hanjaka, na dia nateraka tamin’ alahelo tamin’ ny fanjakany aza izy.
He may even come out of prison to reign over his kingdom, even though he was born poor.
15 Hitako ny miaina rehetra izay miriaria atỳ ambanin’ ny masoandro manotrona ilay zazalahy dia ilay faharoa izay mitsangana handimby ny teo.
I observed everyone here on earth following the youth who takes his place.
16 Tsy hita isa ny olona rehetra, dia izay rehetra anjakany; nefa izay any aoriana tsy mba hifaly aminy; fa zava-poana sy misambo-drivotra foana koa izany.
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.
