Mhubiri 3
1 Kuna wakati kwa ajili ya kila jambo, nayo majira kwa kila tendo chini ya mbingu:
For every thing there is a fixed period, and an appointed time to every thing under heaven: —
2 wakati wa kuzaliwa na wakati wa kufa, wakati wa kupanda na wakati wa kungʼoa yaliyopandwa,
A time to be born, and a time to die. A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted.
3 wakati wa kuua na wakati wa kuponya, wakati wa kubomoa, na wakati wa kujenga,
A time to kill, and a time to heal. A time to breaking down, and a time to build up.
4 wakati wa kulia na wakati wa kucheka, wakati wa kuomboleza na wakati wa kucheza,
A time to weep, and a time to laugh. A time to mourn, and a time to dance.
5 wakati wa kutawanya mawe na wakati wa kukusanya mawe, wakati wa kukumbatia na wakati wa kutokumbatia,
A time to cast stones asunder, and a time to gather stones together. A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.
6 wakati wa kutafuta na wakati wa kupoteza, wakati wa kuweka na wakati wa kutupa,
A time to seek, and a time to lose. A time to keep, and a time to cast away.
7 wakati wa kurarua na wakati wa kushona, wakati wa kunyamaza na wakati wa kuzungumza,
A time to rend, and a time to sew. A time to keep silence, and a time to speak.
8 wakati wa kupenda na wakati wa kuchukia, wakati wa vita na wakati wa amani.
A time to love, and a time to hate. A time of war, and a time of peace.—
9 Mfanyakazi anapata faida gani kutokana na taabu yake?
What profit hath he who laboreth from that with which he wearieth himself?
10 Nimeona mzigo Mungu alioweka juu ya wanadamu.
I have seen the business which God hath given to the sons of men to exercise themselves therewith.
11 Amefanya kila kitu kiwe kizuri kwa wakati wake. Pia ameiweka hiyo milele katika mioyo ya wanadamu, wala hawawezi kutambua kwa kina yale ambayo Mungu amefanya tangu mwanzo hadi mwisho.
God maketh every thing good in its time; but he hath put the world into the heart of man, so that he understandeth not the work which God doeth, from the beginning to the end.
12 Ninajua kwamba hakuna kitu bora kwa wanadamu kuliko kuwa na furaha na kutenda mema wakati wanapoishi.
I know that there is nothing better for a man than that he should rejoice and enjoy good his life long.
13 Tena ni karama ya Mungu kila mtu apate kula na kunywa na kujiburudisha kwa mema katika kazi yake yote.
But when a man eateth and drinketh, and enjoyeth good through all his labor, this is the gift of God.
14 Ninajua kwamba kila kitu anachokifanya Mungu kitadumu milele, hakuna kinachoweza kuongezwa au kupunguzwa. Mungu hufanya hivyo ili watu wamche yeye.
I know that whatever God doeth, that shall be for ever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken from it; and God doeth it that men may fear before him.
15 Chochote kilichopo kilishakuwepo, na kitakachokuwepo kimekwishakuwepo kabla; naye Mungu huyaita yale yaliyopita yarudi tena.
That which is, was long ago; and that which is to be, hath already been; and God recalleth that which is past.
16 Pia nikaona kitu kingine tena chini ya jua: Mahali pa kutolea hukumu, uovu ulikuwepo, mahali pa kupatia haki, uovu ulikuwepo.
Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice there was iniquity; and in the place of righteousness, iniquity.
17 Nikafikiri moyoni mwangu, “Mungu atawaleta hukumuni wote wawili wenye haki na waovu, kwa maana kutakuwako na wakati kwa ajili ya kila jambo, wakati kwa ajili ya kila tendo.”
Then said I in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked.” For there shall be a time for every matter and for every work.
18 Pia nikafikiri, “Kuhusu wanadamu, Mungu huwajaribu ili wajione kwamba wao ni kama wanyama.
I said in my heart concerning the sons of men, that God will prove them, in order that they may see that they are like the beasts.
19 Hatima ya mwanadamu ni kama ile ya wanyama; wote wana mwisho unaofanana: Jinsi anavyokufa mnyama, ndivyo anavyokufa mwanadamu. Wote wana pumzi inayofanana; mwanadamu hana cha zaidi kuliko mnyama. Kila kitu ni ubatili.
For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts: one lot befalleth both. As the one dieth, so dieth the other. Yea, there is one spirit in them, and a man hath no pre-eminence above a beast; for all is vanity.
20 Wote huenda mahali panapofanana; wote hutoka mavumbini, mavumbini wote hurudi.
All go to one place; all are from the dust, and all turn to dust again.
21 Ni nani ajuaye kama roho ya mtu huenda juu na roho ya mnyama hushuka chini ardhini?”
Who knoweth the spirit of man, whether it goeth upward, and the spirit of a beast, whether it goeth downward to the earth?
22 Kwa hiyo nikaona kwamba hakuna kitu kilicho bora zaidi kwa mwanadamu kuliko kuifurahia kazi yake, kwa sababu hilo ndilo fungu lake. Kwa maana ni nani awezaye kumrudisha ili aje kuona kile kitakachotendeka baada yake?
And so I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his labors; for that is his portion. For who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?
