Mhubiri 4
1 Nikatazama tena nikaona uonevu wote uliokuwa unafanyika chini ya jua: Nikaona machozi ya walioonewa, wala hawana wa kuwafariji; uwezo ulikuwa upande wa wale wanaowaonea, wala hawana wa kuwafariji.
Once again I thought about all the oppression that is done under the sun. And behold, the tears of oppressed people, and they had no one to comfort them! Power was in the hand of their oppressors, and there was no one to comfort them!
2 Nami nikasema kwamba wafu, waliokwisha kufa, wana furaha kuliko watu walio hai, ambao bado wanaishi.
So I considered those who are already dead more fortunate than the living, who are still alive.
3 Lakini aliye bora kuliko hao wawili ni yule ambaye hajazaliwa bado, ambaye hajaona ule uovu unaofanyika chini ya jua.
However, more fortunate than both of them is the one who has not yet lived, the one who has not seen any of the evil acts that are done under the sun.
4 Tena nikaona kuwa kazi zote na mafanikio yote huchipuka kutokana na wivu wa mtu kwa jirani yake. Hili nalo ni ubatili, ni kukimbiza upepo.
Then I saw that every act of labor and every skillful work became the envy of one's neighbor. This also is vapor and an attempt to shepherd the wind.
5 Mpumbavu hukunja mikono yake na kujiangamiza mwenyewe.
The fool folds his hands and does not work, so his food is his own flesh.
6 Afadhali konzi moja pamoja na utulivu kuliko konzi mbili pamoja na taabu na kukimbiza upepo.
But better is a handful of profit with quiet work than two handfuls with the work that tries to shepherd the wind.
7 Tena nikaona kitu kingine kilicho ubatili chini ya jua:
Then I thought again about more futility, more vanishing vapor under the sun.
8 Kulikuwepo mwanadamu aliye peke yake, hakuwa na mwana wala ndugu. Hapakuwa na mwisho wa kazi yake, hata hivyo macho yake hayakutosheka na utajiri wake. Aliuliza, “Ninajitaabisha hivi kwa ajili ya nani, nami kwa nini ninajinyima kufurahia?” Hili pia ni ubatili, ni shughuli yenye taabu!
There is the kind of man who is alone. He does not have anyone, no son or brother. There is no end to all his work, and his eyes are not satisfied with gaining wealth. He wonders, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vapor, a bad situation.
9 Wawili ni afadhali kuliko mmoja, kwa sababu wana malipo mazuri kwa kazi yao:
Two people work better than one; together they can earn a good pay for their labor.
10 Kama mmoja akianguka, mwenzake atamwinua. Lakini ni jambo la kuhuzunisha kwa mtu yule aangukaye naye hana wa kumwinua!
For if one falls, the other can lift up his friend. However, sorrow follows the one who is alone when he falls if there is no one to lift him up.
11 Pia, kama wawili wakilala pamoja watapashana joto. Lakini ni vipi mtu aweza kujipasha joto mwenyewe?
If two lie down together, they can be warm, but how can one be warm alone?
12 Ingawa mtu mmoja aweza kushindwa, watu wawili wanaweza kumkabili adui na kumshinda. Kamba ya nyuzi tatu haikatiki kwa urahisi.
One man alone can be overpowered, but two can withstand an attack, and a three-strand rope is not quickly broken.
13 Afadhali kijana maskini mwenye hekima kuliko mfalme mzee mpumbavu ambaye hajui tena kupokea maonyo.
It is better to be a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to listen to warnings.
14 Kijana huyo angeweza kutokea gerezani akapata ufalme, au angeweza kuwa amezaliwa katika umaskini kwenye huo ufalme.
This is true even if the young man becomes king from prison, or even if he was born poor in his kingdom.
15 Nikaona kwamba wote walioishi na kutembea chini ya jua walimfuata kijana, aliyepokea ufalme.
I saw everyone who was alive and was walking around under the sun, along with a youth who was to rise up to take his place.
16 Hapakuwa na kikomo cha watu wote aliowatawala. Lakini wale waliokuja baadaye hawakufurahia kazi ya yule aliyepokea ufalme. Hili nalo pia ni ubatili, ni kukimbiza upepo.
There is no end to all the people who want to obey the new king, but later many of them will no longer praise him. Surely this situation is vapor and an attempt to shepherd the wind.
