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 returned, and saw all the oppressions that were done under the sun: and behold the tear of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of them that oppressed them was power; but they had no comforter:
2 Na mekae se: Awufo a wɔawuwu dedaw no, ani gye sen ateasefo; wɔn a wɔda so wɔ nkwa mu no.
and I praised all the dead that had already died more than the living, as many as are alive until now.
3 Na nea oye sen baanu yi ne nea onnya mmae, nea onnya nhuu bɔne a wɔyɛ wɔ owia yi ase.
Better also than both these is he who has not yet been, who has not seen all the evil work that is done under the sun.
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.
And I saw all labor, and all the diligent work, that this is a man's envy from his neighbor. This is also vanity and waywardness of spirit.
5 Ɔkwasea bobɔw ne nsa gu ne ho na ɔsɛe ne ho.
The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.
6 Nsammua baako a asomdwoe wɔ mu ye sen nsammua abien a ɔbrɛ bata ho; ɛte sɛ nea wotaa mframa.
Better is a handful of rest than two handfuls of trouble and waywardness of spirit.
7 Afei nso mihuu biribi a ɛnka hwee wɔ owia yi ase:
So I returned, and saw vanity under the sun.
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; yes, he has neither son nor brother: yet there is no end to all his labor; neither is his eye satisfied with wealth; and for whom do I labor, and deprive my soul of good? this is also vanity, and an evil trouble.
9 Baanu ye sen ɔbaakofo, efisɛ wonya wɔn brɛ so mfaso a ɛsɔ ani:
Two [are] better than one, [seeing] they have a good reward for their labor.
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 fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls, and there is not a second to lift him up.
11 Bio, sɛ baanu da bɔ mu a wɔka wɔn ho hyew. Na ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na ankonam bɛka ne ho hyew?
Also if two should lie together, they also get heat: but how shall one be warmed [alone?]
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 should prevail against [him], the two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord shall not be quickly broken.
13 Ɔbabun nyansafo a odi hia ye sen ɔhene akwakoraa a ɔyɛ ɔkwasea na ontie kɔkɔbɔ bio.
Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who knows not how to take heed any longer.
14 Ebia na ɔbabun no fi afiase na obedii ade anaasɛ wɔwoo no too ohia mu wɔ adehye abusua mu.
For he shall come forth out of the house of the prisoners to reign, because [he] also that was in his kingdom has become poor.
15 Mihuu sɛ wɔn a wɔtenaa ase na wɔnantew owia yi ase nyinaa dii ɔbabun no akyi, nea odii ɔhene no ade no.
I saw all the living who were walking under the sun, with the second youth who shall stand up in each one's 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 no end to all the people, to all who were before them: and the last shall not rejoice in him: for this also is vanity and waywardness of spirit.
