Mpitoriteny 6

1 Misy ratsy efa hitako atỳ ambanin’ ny masoandro, ary mitambesatra amin’ ny olona izany:

There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy upon men:

2 dia olona izay omen’ Andriamanitra vola aman-karena sy voninahitra, ka tsy misy tsy ananany na inona na inona iriny, nefa tsy omen’ Andriamanitra fahefana hihinana amin’ izany izy, fa olon-kafa no homana azy; zava-poana sy ratsy mahory koa izany.

a man to whom God giveth riches, wealth, and honour, so that he lacketh nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it; this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

3 Na dia misy miteraka zaza zato aza sady tratrantitra, ka efa maro ny andro niainany, nefa tsy mba voky soa ny fanahiny, sady tsy mba alevina akory ny fatiny, dia hoy izaho: Ny tsy tonga volana dia tsara kokoa noho izy.

If a man beget an hundred children and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, but his soul be not filled with good, and moreover he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he:

4 Fa toa zava-poana no nihavian’ io, ary mandeha ao amin’ ny maizina izy, sady ho voasaron’ ny aizina ny anarany,

for it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and the name thereof is covered with darkness;

5 ary koa, tsy nahita na nahalala ny masoandro akory izy, mahita fitsaharana bebe kokoa noho ilay teo izy.

moreover it hath not seen the sun nor known it; this hath rest rather than the other:

6 Eny, na dia tratra arivo taona indroa aza izy, nefa tsy nahita soa, tsy ho any amin’ ny fitoerana iray ihany va no alehan’ izy rehetra?

yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet enjoy no good: do not all go to one place?

7 Ny fisasarana rehetra ataon’ ny olona dia ho an’ ny vavany ihany, nefa tsy mety afa-po ny faniriany.

All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

8 Fa inona no soa azon’ ny hendry noho ny adala? Inona no azon’ ny malahelo izay mahay mitondra tena eo imason’ ny velona?

For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? [or] what hath the poor man, that knoweth to walk before the living?

9 Ny fahitan’ ny maso dia mahafinaritra noho ny firenirenin’ ny faniriana. Zava-poana sy misambo-drivotra foana koa izany.

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

10 Izay efa teo dia voalaza anarana hatry ny fony ela, ary fantatra fa ny olona dia tsy mahazo mifandahatra amin’ izay mahery noho izy.

Whatsoever hath been, the name thereof was given long ago, and it is known that it is man: neither can he contend with him that is mightier than he.

11 Fa maro ny zavatra mahabe ny zava-poana, koa inona no soa azon’ ny olona?

Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?

12 Fa iza no mahalala izay mahasoa ny olona amin’ izao fiainana izao, dia ny andro vitsy mandalo foana izay laniny toy ny fihelin’ ny aloka? Fa iza no hahalaza amin’ ny olona izay zavatra ho avy any aoriany atỳ ambanin’ ny masoandro?

For who knoweth what is good for man in [his] life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?