Lallaba 4
1 Ani ammas ilaalee cunqursaa aduudhaa gaditti adeemsifamaa jiru hunda nan arge: Ani imimmaan cunqurfamtootaa nan arge; nama isaan jajjabeessu tokko illees hin qaban; humni gama cunqursitoota isaanii ture; isaan nama isaan jajjabeessu tokko illee hin qaban.
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 Anis akka warri duʼan, kanneen kanaan dura duʼan, jiraattota amma lubbuudhaan jiraatan caalan nan labse.
And so, I praised the dead more than the living.
3 Garuu namni hamma ammaatti hin dhalatin kan hammina aduudhaa gaditti hojjetamu hin argin, lachan isaanii irra wayya.
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 Anis akka dadhabbiin hojii hundii fi milkaaʼuun hundi hinaaffaa namni ollaa isaa wajjin qabu irraa burqu nan arga. Kunis bubbee ariʼuu dha; faayidaas hin qabu.
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 Gowwaan harka isaa maratee taaʼa; foonuma ofii isaas nyaata.
The foolish man folds his hands together, and he consumes his own flesh, saying:
6 Dadhabbii fi bubbee ariʼuudhaan konyee lama argachuu irra nagaan konyee tokko argachuu wayya.
“A handful with rest is better than both hands filled with labors and with affliction of the soul.”
7 Ani amma illee waan faayidaa hin qabne tokko aduudhaa gaditti nan arge:
While considering this, I also discovered another vanity under the sun.
8 Nama kophaa isaa jiraatu tokkotu jira; innis ilma yookaan obboleessa hin qabu ture. Yeroo hunda hojiitti dadhaba; taʼus iji isaa qabeenya isaa ilaalee quufe hin jedhu. Innis, “Ani eenyuuf jedheen dadhaba? Maaliifan gammachuus of laga?” jedhee gaafate. Kunis faayidaa hin qabu; hojii buʼaa hin qabnee dha!
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 Isaan sababii hojii isaaniitiif gatii gaarii waan argataniif nama tokko irra nama lama wayya:
Therefore, it is better for two to be together, than for one to be alone. For they have the advantage of their companionship.
10 Yoo inni tokko kufe, inni kaan ol isa qaba. Garuu namni kufee kan ol isa kaasu hin qabne garaa nama nyaata!
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 Yoo namoonni lama wajjin ciisan itti hoʼa; nama tokko garuu akkamitti kophaa isaa itti hoʼuu dandaʼa?
And if two are sleeping, they warm one another. How can one person alone be warmed?
12 Namni tokko moʼatamuu dandaʼa; namoonni lama garuu of irraa deebisuu dandaʼu. Funyoon foʼaa sadiin foʼame dafee hin citu.
And if a man can prevail against one, two may withstand him, and a threefold cord is broken with difficulty.
13 Mootii dulloomaa fi gowwaa siʼachi gorsa hin fudhanne irra, dargaggeessa hiyyeessa ogeessa wayya.
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 Inni yoo hiyyumaan mootummaa sana keessatti dhalate iyyuu mana hidhaatii baʼee mootii taʼuu dandaʼaatii.
For sometimes, one goes forth from prison and chains, to a kingdom, while another, born to kingly power, is consumed by need.
15 Ani akka namni aduudhaa gad jiraate hundi dargaggeessa mootii dhaalu sana duukaa buʼe nan arge.
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 Baayʼinni nama fuula isaanii dura jiruu hamma hin qabu ture. Warri duubaan dhufan garuu dargaggeessa dhaalu sanatti hin gammanne. Kun hundis bubbee ariʼuu dha; faayidaas hin qabu.
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.
