1
Nikauambia moyo wangu, Haya, nitakujaribu kwa njia ya furaha basi ujifurahishe kwa anasa. Na tazama, hayo nayo yakawa ubatili.
I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good!” But it proved to be futile.
2
Nikasema juu ya kicheko, Ni wazimu; na juu ya furaha, Yafaa nini?
I said of laughter, “It is folly,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”
3
Moyoni mwangu nikapeleleza jinsi ya kuuburudisha mwili kwa mvinyo, na (moyo wangu ukali ukiniongoza kwa hekima) jinsi ya kushikana na upumbavu, hata niyaone yaliyo mema ya kuwafaa wanadamu, ili wayafanye hayo chini ya mbingu siku zote za maisha yao.
I sought to cheer my body with wine and to embrace folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—until I could see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.
4
Nikajifanyizia kazi zilizo kubwa; nikajijengea nyumba; nikajipandia mashamba ya mizabibu;
I expanded my pursuits. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.
5
nikajifanyizia bustani na viunga, na kuipanda humo miti yenye matunda ya kila namna;
I made gardens and parks for myself, where I planted all kinds of fruit trees.
6
nikajifanyizia birika za maji, ya kuunyweshea mwitu mlimopandwa miti michanga.
I built reservoirs to water my groves of flourishing trees.
7
Nami nikanunua watumwa na wajakazi, nikawa na wazalia nyumbani mwangu; tena nikawa na mali nyingi za ng'ombe na kondoo, kupita wote walionitangulia katika Yerusalemu;
I acquired menservants and maidservants, and servants were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me,
8
tena nikajikusanyia fedha na dhahabu, na tunu za kifalme na za kutoka katika majimbo. Nikajipatia waimbaji, waume kwa wake, nao wale ambao wanadamu wanawatunuka, masuria wengi sana.
and I accumulated for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered to myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men—many concubines.
9
Basi nikawa mkuu, nikaongezeka kupita wote walionitangulia katika Yerusalemu; pia hekima yangu nikakaa nayo.
So I became great and surpassed all in Jerusalem who had preceded me; and my wisdom remained with me.
10
Wala sikuyanyima macho yangu cho chote yalichokitamani; wala sikuuzuia moyo wangu katika furaha yo yote; maana moyo wangu ulifurahi kwa sababu ya kazi yangu yote, na hii ilikuwa sehemu yangu katika kazi yangu yote.
Anything my eyes desired, I did not deny myself. I refused my heart no pleasure. For my heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.
11
Kisha nikaziangalia kazi zote zilizofanywa kwa mikono yangu, na taabu yote niliyotaabika katika kuzitenda; na tazama, yote ni ubatili na kujilisha upepo, wala faida hakuna chini ya jua.
Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
12
Nikageuka ili kuipambanua hekima, na wazimu na upumbavu. Kwa maana mtu amfuataye mfalme afanye nini? Lilo hilo tu lililokwisha kufanywa.
Then I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what more can the king’s successor do than what has already been accomplished?
13
Ndipo nilipoona ya kuwa kweli hekima hupita upumbavu, kwa kadiri nuru ipitavyo giza;
And I saw that wisdom exceeds folly, just as light exceeds darkness:
14
macho yake mwenye hekima yamo kichwani mwake, lakini mpumbavu huenda gizani; ila hata hivyo nikatambua ya kwamba ni tukio moja la mwisho liwapatalo wote sawasawa.
The wise man has eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also came to realize that one fate overcomes them both.
15
Nikasema moyoni mwangu, Kama limpatavyo mpumbavu, ndivyo litakavyonipata mimi nami; basi, kwa nini nikawa na hekima zaidi? Nikasema moyoni mwangu ya kuwa hayo nayo ni ubatili.
So I said to myself, “The fate of the fool will also befall me. What then have I gained by being wise?” And I said to myself that this too is futile.
16
Maana hakuna kumbukumbu la milele la mwenye hekima, wala la mpumbavu; kwa sababu siku zijazo wote pia watakuwa wamekwisha kusahauliwa. Na mwenye hekima, jinsi gani anavyokufa sawasawa na mpumbavu!
For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, just as with the fool, seeing that both will be forgotten in the days to come. Alas, the wise man will die just like the fool!
17
Basi, nikauchukia uhai; kwa sababu kazi inayotendeka chini ya jua ilikuwa mbaya kwangu; yaani, mambo yote ni ubatili na kujilisha upepo.
So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
18
Nami nikaichukia kazi yangu yote niliyojishughulisha nayo chini ya jua; maana sina budi kumwachia yeye atakayenifuata.
I hated all for which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me.
19
Naye ni nani ajuaye kama huyo atakuwa mwenye hekima au mpumbavu? Hata hivyo atatawala juu ya kazi yangu yote niliyojishughulisha nayo, ambamo ndani yake mimi nimeonyesha hekima chini ya jua. Hayo nayo ni ubatili.
And who knows whether that man will be wise or foolish? Yet he will take over all the labor at which I have worked skillfully under the sun. This too is futile.
20
Kwa hiyo nikageuka kukata tamaa moyoni mwangu juu ya kazi yangu yote niliyojishughulisha nayo chini ya jua.
So my heart began to despair over all the labor that I had done under the sun.
21
Maana kuna mtu ambaye kazi yake ni kwa hekima, na kwa maarifa, na kwa ustadi; naye atamwachia mtu asiyeshughulika nayo kuwa sehemu yake. Hayo tena ni ubatili, nayo ni baa kuu.
When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and he must give his portion to a man who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great evil.
22
Kwa maana mtu hupata nini kwa kazi yake yote, na kwa juhudi ya moyo wake alivyojitahidi chini ya jua?
For what does a man get for all the toil and striving with which he labors under the sun?
23
Kwa kuwa siku zake zote ni masikitiko, na kazi yake ni huzuni; naam, hata usiku moyoni mwake hamna raha. Hayo nayo ni ubatili.
Indeed, all his days are filled with grief, and his task is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile.
24
Mwanadamu hapati jema kupita kula na kunywa, na kuiburudisha roho yake kwa mema katika kazi yake. Hayo nayo naliona ya kwamba hutoka mkononi mwa Mungu.
Nothing is better for a man than to eat and drink and enjoy his work. I have also seen that this is from the hand of God.
25
Kwa maana ni nani awezaye kula au kujiburudisha kuliko mimi?
For apart from Him, who can eat and who can find enjoyment?
26
Kwa sababu Mungu humpa yeye aliyemridhia hekima na maarifa na furaha; bali mkosaji humpa taabu, ili kukusanya na kututa, apate kumpa huyo ambaye Mungu amridhia. Hayo nayo ni ubatili na kujilisha upepo.
To the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He assigns the task of gathering and accumulating that which he will hand over to one who pleases God. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.