Ecclesiastes 4
1 Mo sì tún wò ó, mo sì rí gbogbo ìnilára tí ó ń ṣẹlẹ̀ lábẹ́ oòrùn, mo rí ẹkún àwọn tí ara ń ni, wọn kò sì ní olùtùnú kankan, agbára wà ní ìkápá àwọn tí ó ń ni wọ́n lára, wọn kò sì ní olùtùnú kankan.
Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and, behold, the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
2 Mo jowú àwọn tí wọ́n ti kú tí wọ́n sì ti lọ, ó sàn fún wọn ju àwọn tí wọ́n sì wà láààyè lọ.
Wherefore I praised the dead that have been long dead more than the living that are yet alive;
3 Nítòótọ́, ẹni tí kò tí ì sí sàn ju àwọn méjèèjì lọ: ẹni tí kò tí ì rí iṣẹ́ búburú tí ó ń lọ ní abẹ́ oòrùn.
yea, better than them both [did I esteem] him that hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4 Mo sì tún mọ̀ pẹ̀lú, ìdí tí ènìyàn fi ń ṣiṣẹ́ tagbára tagbára láti ṣe àṣeyọrí, nítorí pé wọn ń jowú àwọn aládùúgbò wọn ni. Ṣùgbọ́n, asán ni, ó dàbí ẹni ń gbìyànjú àti mú afẹ́fẹ́.
Then I saw all labor and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
5 Aṣiwèrè ká ọwọ́ rẹ̀ kò ó sì ba tara rẹ̀ jẹ́.
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
6 Oúnjẹ ẹ̀kúnwọ́ kan pẹ̀lú ìdákẹ́ jẹ́ẹ́jẹ́ sàn ju ẹ̀kúnwọ́ méjì pẹ̀lú wàhálà, àti gbígba ìyànjú àti lé afẹ́fẹ́ lọ.
Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and striving after wind.
7 Lẹ́ẹ̀kan sí i, mo tún rí ohun asán kan lábẹ́ oòrùn.
Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
8 Ọkùnrin kan ṣoṣo dá wà; kò ní ọmọkùnrin kankan tàbí ẹbí. Kò sí òpin nínú làálàá rẹ̀ gbogbo, síbẹ̀, ọrọ̀ kò tẹ́ ojú rẹ̀ lọ́rùn. Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni kò sì wí pé, “Nítorí ta ni èmí ṣe ń ṣe làálàá, àti wí pé, èétiṣe tí mo fi ń fi ìgbádùn du ara mi?” Eléyìí náà asán ni, iṣẹ́ òsì!
There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches. For whom then, [saith he], do I labor, and deprive my soul of good? This also is vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
9 Ẹni méjì sàn ju ẹnìkan, nítorí wọ́n ní èrè rere fún làálàá wọn.
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
10 Tí ọ̀kan bá ṣubú lulẹ̀, ọ̀rẹ́ rẹ̀ le è ràn án lọ́wọ́ kí ó fà á sókè, ṣùgbọ́n ìyọnu ni fún ọkùnrin náà tí ó ṣubú tí kò sì ní ẹni tí ó le è ràn án lọ́wọ́!
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up.
11 Àti pẹ̀lú pé, bí ẹni méjì bá sùn pọ̀, wọn yóò móoru. Ṣùgbọ́n báwo ni ẹnìkan ṣe le è dá nìkan móoru?
Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm [alone]?
12 Bí ó tilẹ̀ jẹ́ pé, a le è kojú ogun ẹnìkan, àwọn méjì le è gbìjà ara wọn, ìkọ́ okùn mẹ́ta kì í dùn ún yára fà já.
And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13 Òtòṣì ìpẹ́ẹ̀rẹ̀ tí ó ṣe ọlọ́gbọ́n, ó sàn ju arúgbó àti aṣiwèrè ọba lọ tí kò mọ bí yóò ti ṣe gba ìmọ̀ràn.
Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.
14 Nítorí pé láti inú túbú ni ó ti jáde láti jẹ ọba, bí a tilẹ̀ bí i ní tálákà ní ìjọba rẹ̀.
For out of prison he came forth to be king; yea, even in his kingdom he was born poor.
15 Mo rí gbogbo alààyè tí ń rìn lábẹ́ oòrùn, pẹ̀lú ìpẹ́ẹ̀rẹ̀ kejì tí yóò gba ipò ọba yìí.
I saw all the living that walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the second, that stood up in his stead.
16 Gbogbo àwọn tí ó wà níwájú wọn kò sì lópin, ọ̀gọ̀ọ̀rọ̀ àwọn ènìyàn ní ó jẹ ọba lé lórí, ẹni tí ó wà ní ipò yìí kò dùn mọ́ àwọn tí ó tẹ̀lé wọn nínú. Asán ni eléyìí pẹ̀lú jẹ́, ó dàbí ẹni ń gbìyànjú àti mú afẹ́fẹ́ ni.
There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
