Ɔsɛnkafo 6
1 Mahu bɔne foforo bi wɔ owia yi ase a ɛhyɛ nnipa so yiye:
There is also another evil, which I have seen under the sun, and, indeed, it is frequent among men.
2 Onyankopɔn ma onipa ahonyade, adenya ne anuonyam sɛnea biribiara a ne koma pɛ no ɛremmɔ no, nanso Onyankopɔn amma no kwan sɛ ɔmfa nnye nʼani, na ɔhɔho mmom na ɔde gye nʼani. Eyi yɛ ahuhude, ɔhaw a ɛyɛ yaw.
It is a man to whom God has given wealth, and resources, and honor; and out of all that he desires, nothing is lacking to his life; yet God does not grant him the ability to consume these things, but instead a man who is a stranger will devour them. This is emptiness and a great misfortune.
3 Onipa betumi anya mma ɔha na wanyin akyɛ; nanso ne mfe dodow yi akyi no, nʼahonya no amma nʼani annye na ne sie nso anyɛ fɛ a, ɔpɔn ba so wɔ mfaso sen no.
If a man were to produce one hundred children, and to live for many years, and to attain to an age of many days, and if his soul were to make no use of the goods of his resources, and if he were lacking even a burial: concerning such a man, I declare that a miscarried child is better than he.
4 Ne ba no yɛ ade hunu, sum mu na ɔkɔ, na sum akata ne din so.
For he arrives without a purpose and he continues on into darkness, and his name shall be wiped away, into oblivion.
5 Ɛwɔ mu sɛ wanhu owia na onnim hwee de, nanso obenya ahomegye bebree sen nea saa ɔbarima no benya,
He has not seen the sun, nor recognized the difference between good and evil.
6 mpo sɛ ɔtena ase mfe apem mmɔho na wamfa nʼahonyade annye nʼani a, wɔn nyinaa nkɔ faako ana?
Even if he were to live for two thousand years, and yet not thoroughly enjoy what is good, does not each one hurry on to the same place?
7 Onipa brɛ nyinaa yɛ nʼano ntia, nanso nʼakɔnnɔde mmee no da.
Every labor of man is for his mouth, but his soul will not be filled.
8 Na dɛn na onyansafo wɔ de sen ɔkwasea? Sɛ ohiani yɛ nʼakwan yiye wɔ afoforo anim a mfaso bɛn na obenya?
What do the wise have which is more than the foolish? And what does the pauper have, except to continue on to that place, where there is life?
9 Nea aniwa hu no ye sen nea akɔnnɔ kyin hwehwɛ. Eyi nso yɛ ahuhude, ɛte sɛ wotaa mframa.
It is better to see what you desire, than to desire what you cannot know. But this, too, is emptiness and a presumption of spirit.
10 Nea ɛwɔ hɔ biara, wɔato din dedaw, na sɛnea onipa te nso, wonim dedaw; onipa biara rentumi ne nea ɔwɔ ahoɔden sen no nnye eyi ho akyinnye.
Whoever shall be in the future, his name has already been called. And it is known that he is a man and that he is not able to contend in judgment against one who is stronger than himself.
11 Nsɛm dɔɔso a, mu ntease sua, na so wɔ mfaso ma onipa ana?
There are many words, and many of these, in disputes, hold much emptiness.
12 Na hena na onim nea eye ma onipa wɔ ne nkwanna kakraa bi a ɛyɛ ahuhude na ɔfa mu kɔ sɛ sunsuma no mu? Hena na obetumi aka nea ebesi wɔ owia yi ase akyerɛ no bere a ɔkɔ no?
Why is it necessary for a man to seek things that are greater than himself, when he does not know what is advantageous for himself in his life, during the number of the days of his sojourn, and while time passes by like a shadow? Or who will be able to tell him what will be in the future after him under the sun?
