Mhubiri 6
1 Kuna ubaya ambao nimeuona chini ya jua, na ni mbaya kwa watu.
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:
2 Mungu anaweza kumpa mtu mali na utajiri na heshima kwa kiasi kwamba hakosi chochote anachokitamani mwenyewe, lakini kisha hampi uwezo wa kukifurahia. Badala yake mtu mwingine hutumia vitu vyake. Huu ni mvuke, teso baya.
A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he lacketh nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat of it, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
3 Kama mtu akizaa watoto mia moja na kuishi miaka mingi, ili kwamba siku za miaka yake ni nyingi, lakini kama moyo wake hautosheki kwa mema na hazikwi kwa heshima, kisha ninasema kwamba, mtoto aliyezaliwa akiwa amekufa ni bora kuliko alivyo.
If a man begetteth an hundred children, and liveth many years, so that the days of his years are many, and his soul is not filled with good, and also that he hath no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.
4 Hata mtoto huyo amezaliwa bila faida na anapita katika giza, na jina lake linabaki limefichika.
For he cometh with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.
5 Ingawa mtoto huyu haoni jua au kujua kitu chochote, ana pumziko ingawa mtu huyo hakupumzika.
Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.
6 Hata kama mtu akiishi miaka elfu mbili lakini hajifunzi kufuraia vitu vizuri, aenda sehemu moja kama mtu yeyote yule.
Yea, though he liveth a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?
7 Ingawa kazi yote ya mtu ni kujaza mdomo wake, ila hamu yake haishibi.
All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
8 Hakika ni faida gani aliyo nayo mwenye hekima kuliko mpumbavu? Ni faida gani aliyo nayo masikini hata kama anajua jinsi ya kutenda mbele ya watu?
For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
9 Ni bora kuridhika na kile ambacho macho hukiona kuliko kutamani kile ambacho hamu isiyo tulia inatamani, ambayo pia ni mvuke na kujaribu kuuchunga upepo.
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
10 Chochote ambacho kimekuwepo, tayari kimekwisha kupewa jina lake, na vile mtu alivyo ni kama tayari amekwisha fahamika. Hivyo imekuwa haifai kugombana na yule ambaye ni muhukumu mkuu wa wote.
That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.
11 Maneno mengi ambayo yanaongelewa, ndivyo yasiyo na maana yanaongezeka, kwa hiyo ni faida gani iliyopo kwa mwanadamu?
Seeing there are many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
12 Kwa kuwa ni nani ajuaye nini kilicho kizuri kwa mtu katika maisha yake wakati wa ubatili wake, siku zilizo hesabika ambazo kwa hizo anapita kama kivuri? Ni nina anayeweza kumwambia mtu kile kitakacho kuja chini ya jua baada ya kupita?
For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
