Muparidzi 1
1 Mashoko oMuparidzi, mwanakomana waDhavhidhi, mambo muJerusarema:
These are the words of the Teacher, the descendant of David and king in Jerusalem.
2 Zvanzi noMuparidzi, “Hazvina maturo! Hazvina maturo! Hazvina maturo chose! Zvose hazvina maturo.”
The Teacher says this. “Like a vapor of mist, like a breeze in the wind, everything vanishes, leaving many questions.
3 Munhu achawaneiko kubva pakushanda kwake kwose kwaanoita nesimba pasi pezuva?
What profit does mankind gain from all the work that they labor at under the sun?
4 Zvizvarwa zvinouya uye zvizvarwa zvinoenda, asi nyika inogara nokusingaperi.
One generation goes, and another generation comes, but the earth remains forever.
5 Zuva rinobuda uye zuva rinovira, uye rinokurumidza kudzokerazve kwarinobudira.
The sun rises, and it goes down and hurries back to the place where it rises again.
6 Mhepo inovhuvhuta ichienda zasi, yozodzokera kumusoro; inotenderera nokutenderera ichingodzokerazve pagwara rayo.
The wind blows south and circles around to the north, always going around along its pathway and coming back again.
7 Nzizi dzose dzinodira mugungwa, kunyange zvakadaro gungwa harizari. Kunzvimbo kwadzinobva nzizi, ikoko ndiko kwadzinodzokerazve.
All the rivers flow into the sea, but the sea is never full. To the place where the rivers go, there they go again.
8 Zvinhu zvose zvinonetesa, zvisina ani angazvitaura. Ziso hariguti kuona, uye nzeve haizari nokunzwa.
Everything becomes wearisome, and no one can explain it. The eye is not satisfied by what it sees, nor is the ear fulfilled by what it hears.
9 Chakanga chiripo, chichazovapozve, chakamboitwa chichaitwazve; hapana chitsva pasi pezuva.
Whatever has been is what will be, and whatever has been done is what will be done. There is nothing new under the sun.
10 Chiripo here chinhu chinganzi nomunhu, “Tarira! Chinhu ichi chitsva?” Chakanga chichingovapo, kare kare; chakanga chiripo isu tisati tavapo.
Is there anything about which it may be said, 'Look, this is new'? Whatever exists has already existed for a long time, during ages which came long before us.
11 Vanhu vakare havacharangarirwi; uye kunyange vanovatevera, havachazorangarirwi nevanozotevera.
No one seems to remember the things that happened in ancient times, and the things that happened much later and that will happen in the future will not likely be remembered either.”
12 Ini muparidzi ndakanga ndiri mambo weIsraeri muJerusarema.
I am the Teacher, and I have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 Ndakazvipira kunzvera nokutsvaka nouchenjeri zvose zvinoitwa pasi pedenga. Ibasa rinotambudza rakapiwa vanakomana vavanhu naMwari kuti vazvitambudze naro.
I applied my mind to study and to search out by wisdom everything that is done under heaven. That search is a burdensome task that God has given to the children of mankind to be busy with.
14 Ndakaona zvinhu zvose zvinoitwa pasi pezuva; zvose hazvo hazvina maturo, kudzingana nemhepo bedzi.
I have seen all the deeds that are done under the sun, and look, they all amount to vapor and chasing the wind.
15 Chakakombamiswa hachingatwasanudzwi; chinoshayikwa hachingaverengwi.
The twisted cannot be straightened! The missing cannot be counted!
16 Ndakafunga mumwoyo mangu ndikati, “Tarira, ndazviwanira uchenjeri hwakawanda kupfuura vose vakanditangira kutonga muJerusarema; ndava nouchenjeri uye noruzivo rwakawanda.”
I have spoken to my heart saying, “Look, I have acquired greater wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My mind has seen great wisdom and knowledge.”
17 Ipapo ndakazvipira kutsvaka kunzwisisa uchenjeri uyezve noupengo noupenzi, asi ndakadzidzawo zvakare kuti, naizvozviwo kudzingana nemhepo.
So I applied my heart to know wisdom and also madness and folly. I came to understand that this also was an attempt to shepherd the wind.
18 Nokuti muuchenjeri huzhinji mune kusuwa kuzhinji; kuwanda kwezivo, kuwandawo kwokuchema.
For in the abundance of wisdom there is much frustration, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
