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.
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 Anis akka warri duʼan, kanneen kanaan dura duʼan, jiraattota amma lubbuudhaan jiraatan caalan nan labse.
I congratulated those who were already dead, for the dead are better off than those who are still alive and being oppressed.
3 Garuu namni hamma ammaatti hin dhalatin kan hammina aduudhaa gaditti hojjetamu hin argin, lachan isaanii irra wayya.
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 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.
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 Gowwaan harka isaa maratee taaʼa; foonuma ofii isaas nyaata.
Fools fold their arms and do nothing—so in the end they're all used up.
6 Dadhabbii fi bubbee ariʼuudhaan konyee lama argachuu irra nagaan konyee tokko argachuu wayya.
It's better to earn a little without stress than a lot with too much stress and chasing after the wind.
7 Ani amma illee waan faayidaa hin qabne tokko aduudhaa gaditti nan arge:
Then I turned to consider something else here on earth that is also frustratingly hard to understand.
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!
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 Isaan sababii hojii isaaniitiif gatii gaarii waan argataniif nama tokko irra nama lama wayya:
Two are better than one, for they can help each other in their work.
10 Yoo inni tokko kufe, inni kaan ol isa qaba. Garuu namni kufee kan ol isa kaasu hin qabne garaa nama nyaata!
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 Yoo namoonni lama wajjin ciisan itti hoʼa; nama tokko garuu akkamitti kophaa isaa itti hoʼuu dandaʼa?
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 Namni tokko moʼatamuu dandaʼa; namoonni lama garuu of irraa deebisuu dandaʼu. Funyoon foʼaa sadiin foʼame dafee hin citu.
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 Mootii dulloomaa fi gowwaa siʼachi gorsa hin fudhanne irra, dargaggeessa hiyyeessa ogeessa wayya.
A poor young person who's wise is better than an old and foolish king who no longer accepts advice.
14 Inni yoo hiyyumaan mootummaa sana keessatti dhalate iyyuu mana hidhaatii baʼee mootii taʼuu dandaʼaatii.
He may even come out of prison to reign over his kingdom, even though he was born poor.
15 Ani akka namni aduudhaa gad jiraate hundi dargaggeessa mootii dhaalu sana duukaa buʼe nan arge.
I observed everyone here on earth following the youth who takes his place.
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.
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.
