Ɔsɛnkafo 4
1 Bio, mehwɛ mihuu nhyɛso a ɛrekɔ so wɔ owia yi ase: Mihuu wɔn a wɔredi wɔn nya no nusu na wonni ɔwerɛkyekyefo biara; tumi no wɔ wɔn nhyɛsofo no nsam na wonni ɔwerɛkyekyefo biara.
So I turned and considered all the oppressions that are wrought vnder the sunne, and beholde the teares of the oppressed, and none comforteth them: and lo, the strength is of the hand of them that oppresse them, and none comforteth them.
2 Na mekae se: Awufo a wɔawuwu dedaw no, ani gye sen ateasefo; wɔn a wɔda so wɔ nkwa mu no.
Wherefore I praysed the dead which now are dead, aboue the liuing, which are yet aliue.
3 Na nea oye sen baanu yi ne nea onnya mmae, nea onnya nhuu bɔne a wɔyɛ wɔ owia yi ase.
And I count him better then them both, which hath not yet bin: for he hath not seene the euill workes which are wrought vnder the sunne.
4 Na mihuu sɛ adwumayɛ mu ɔbrɛ ne nea onipa tumi yɛ nyinaa nnyinaso ne sɛ nʼani bere ne yɔnko. Eyi nso yɛ ahuhude, mmirika a wotu taa mframa.
Also I beheld all trauaile, and all perfection of workes that this is ye enuie of a man against his neighbour: this also is vanitie and vexation of spirit.
5 Ɔkwasea bobɔw ne nsa gu ne ho na ɔsɛe ne ho.
The foole foldeth his hands, and eateth vp his owne flesh.
6 Nsammua baako a asomdwoe wɔ mu ye sen nsammua abien a ɔbrɛ bata ho; ɛte sɛ nea wotaa mframa.
Better is an handfull with quietnesse, then two handfuls with labour and vexation of spirit.
7 Afei nso mihuu biribi a ɛnka hwee wɔ owia yi ase:
Againe I returned, and sawe vanitie vnder the sunne.
8 Na ɔbarima bi wɔ hɔ a ɔyɛ ankonam; onni ɔbabarima anaa onuabarima. Nʼadwumaden amma nʼawie da, nanso nʼani ansɔ nʼahonya. Obisaa ne ho se, “Na hena na merebrɛ ama no, na adɛn nti na mede anigye kame me kra?” Eyi nso yɛ ahuhude, ɛyɛ ɔhaw kwa.
There is one alone, and there is not a second, which hath neither sonne nor brother, yet is there none end of all his trauaile, neither can his eye be satisfied with riches: neither doeth he thinke, For whome doe I trauaile and defraude my soule of pleasure? this also is vanitie, and this is an euill trauaile.
9 Baanu ye sen ɔbaakofo, efisɛ wonya wɔn brɛ so mfaso a ɛsɔ ani:
Two are better then one: for they haue better wages for their labour.
10 Sɛ ɔbaako hwe ase a ne yɔnko betumi aboa no. Nanso onipa a ɔhwe ase a onni ɔboafo no, yɛ mmɔbɔ.
For if they fal, the one wil lift vp his felow: but wo vnto him that is alone: for he falleth, and there is not a second to lift him vp.
11 Bio, sɛ baanu da bɔ mu a wɔka wɔn ho hyew. Na ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na ankonam bɛka ne ho hyew?
Also if two sleepe together, then shall they haue heate: but to one how should there be heate?
12 Ɔbaakofo de, wobetumi aka no ahyɛ nanso baanu tumi pere wɔn ti. Hama a wɔawɔ no mmɛsa no, wontumi ntetew mu ntɛm.
And if one ouercome him, two shall stand against him: and a threefolde coard is not easily broken.
13 Ɔbabun nyansafo a odi hia ye sen ɔhene akwakoraa a ɔyɛ ɔkwasea na ontie kɔkɔbɔ bio.
Better is a poore and wise childe, then an olde and foolish King, which will no more be admonished.
14 Ebia na ɔbabun no fi afiase na obedii ade anaasɛ wɔwoo no too ohia mu wɔ adehye abusua mu.
For out of the prison he commeth forth to reigne: when as he that is borne in his kingdome, is made poore.
15 Mihuu sɛ wɔn a wɔtenaa ase na wɔnantew owia yi ase nyinaa dii ɔbabun no akyi, nea odii ɔhene no ade no.
I behelde all the liuing, which walke vnder the sunne, with the second childe, which shall stand vp in his place.
16 Nnipadɔm a wontumi nkan wɔn dii nʼakyi. Nanso nkyirimma no ani annye ne ho. Eyi nso yɛ ahuhude, ɛte sɛ wotaa mframa.
There is none ende of all the people, nor of all that were before them, and they that come after, shall not reioyce in him: surely this is also vanitie and vexation of spirit.
