< Mhubiri 3 >

1 Kuna wakati kwa ajili ya kila jambo, nayo majira kwa kila tendo chini ya mbingu:
For everything there is an appointed time, and a season for every purpose under heaven.
2 wakati wa kuzaliwa na wakati wa kufa, wakati wa kupanda na wakati wa kungʼoa yaliyopandwa,
There is a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pull up plants,
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 tear down and a time to build up.
4 wakati wa kulia na wakati wa kucheka, wakati wa kuomboleza na wakati wa kucheza,
There is 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 throw away stones and a time to gather stones, a time to embrace other people, and a time to refrain from embracing.
6 wakati wa kutafuta na wakati wa kupoteza, wakati wa kuweka na wakati wa kutupa,
There is a time to look for things and a time to stop looking, a time to keep things and a time to throw away things,
7 wakati wa kurarua na wakati wa kushona, wakati wa kunyamaza na wakati wa kuzungumza,
a time to tear clothing and a time to repair clothing, a time to keep silent and a time to speak.
8 wakati wa kupenda na wakati wa kuchukia, wakati wa vita na wakati wa amani.
There is a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
9 Mfanyakazi anapata faida gani kutokana na taabu yake?
What profit does the worker gain in his labor?
10 Nimeona mzigo Mungu alioweka juu ya wanadamu.
I have seen the work that God has given to human beings to complete.
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 has made everything suitable for its own time. He has also placed eternity in their hearts. But mankind cannot understand the deeds that God has done, from their beginning all the way to their 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 anyone than to rejoice and to do good so long as he lives—
13 Tena ni karama ya Mungu kila mtu apate kula na kunywa na kujiburudisha kwa mema katika kazi yake yote.
and that everyone should eat and drink, and should understand how to enjoy the good that comes from all his work. This is a gift from 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 does lasts forever. Nothing can be added to it or taken away, because it is God who has done it so that people will approach him with honor.
15 Chochote kilichopo kilishakuwepo, na kitakachokuwepo kimekwishakuwepo kabla; naye Mungu huyaita yale yaliyopita yarudi tena.
Whatever exists has already existed; whatever will exist has already existed. God makes human beings seek hidden things.
16 Pia nikaona kitu kingine tena chini ya jua: Mahali pa kutolea hukumu, uovu ulikuwepo, mahali pa kupatia haki, uovu ulikuwepo.
I have seen the wickedness that is under the sun, where there should be justice, and in place of righteousness, wickedness was there.
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.”
I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked at the right time for every matter and every deed.”
18 Pia nikafikiri, “Kuhusu wanadamu, Mungu huwajaribu ili wajione kwamba wao ni kama wanyama.
I said in my heart, “God tests human beings to show them that they are like animals.”
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 the fate of the children of mankind and the fate of animals is the same fate for them. The death of one is like the death of the other. The breath is the same for all of them. There is no advantage for mankind over the animals. For is not everything just a breath?
20 Wote huenda mahali panapofanana; wote hutoka mavumbini, mavumbini wote hurudi.
Everything is going to the same place. Everything comes from the dust, and everything returns to the dust.
21 Ni nani ajuaye kama roho ya mtu huenda juu na roho ya mnyama hushuka chini ardhini?”
Who knows whether the spirit of mankind goes upward and the spirit of animals goes downward into 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?
So again I realized that there is nothing better for anyone than to take pleasure in his work, for that is his assignment. Who can bring him back to see what happens after him?

< Mhubiri 3 >