1
Kisha nikarudi na kuona madhalimu yote yanayotendeka chini ya jua; na tazama, machozi yao waliodhulumiwa, ambao walikuwa hawana mfariji; na upande wa wale waliowadhulumu kulikuwa na uwezo, walakini wale walikuwa hawana mfariji.
Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no comforter.
2
Kwa hiyo nikawasifu wafu waliokwisha kufa kuliko wenye uhai walio hai bado;
So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.
3
naam, zaidi ya hao wote nikamwita heri yeye asiyekuwako bado, ambaye hakuyaona mabaya yanayotendeka chini ya jua.
But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.
4
Tena nikafikiri amali zote, na kila kazi ya ustadi, ya kwamba inatoka katika mtu kupingana na mwenzake. Hayo nayo ni ubatili na kujilisha upepo.
I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
5
Mpumbavu huikunja mikono yake, Naye hula chakula chake mwenyewe;
The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.
6
Heri konzi moja pamoja na utulivu, Kuliko konzi mbili pamoja na taabu; na kujilisha upepo.
Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.
7
Kisha nikarudi tena, na kuona ubatili chini ya jua.
Again, I saw futility under the sun.
8
Kuna mtu aliye peke yake, wala hana wa pili wake; naam, hana mwana wala ndugu; hata hivyo amali yake haina mwisho, wala macho yake hayashibi utajiri. Basi asema, Ni kwa ajili ya nani nafanya kazi, na kujinyima nafsi yangu mema? Hayo nayo ni ubatili, naam, ni taabu kubwa.
There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.
9
Afadhali kuwa wawili kuliko mmoja; Maana wapata ijara njema kwa kazi yao.
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.
10
Kwa maana wakianguka, mmoja wao atamwinua mwenzake; lakini ole wake aliye peke yake aangukapo, wala hana mwingine wa kumwinua!
For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!
11
Tena, wawili wakilala pamoja, hapo watapata moto; lakini mmoja aliye peke yake tu awezaje kuona moto?
Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?
12
Hata ikiwa mtu aweza kumshinda yule aliye peke yake, wawili watampinga; wala kamba ya nyuzi tatu haikatiki upesi.
And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
13
Heri kijana maskini mwenye hekima Kuliko mfalme mzee mpumbavu.
Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.
14
Kwa maana kutoka gerezani alikuja kumiliki; naam, hata katika ufalme wake alizaliwa hali ya umaskini.
For the youth has come from the prison to the kingship, though he was born poor in his own kingdom.
15
Nikawaona wote walio hai waendao chini ya jua, ya kwamba walishikamana na huyo kijana, huyo wa pili aliyesimama badala ya yule.
I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed this second one, the youth who succeeded the king.
16
Hawakuwa na kikomo hao watu wote, hao wote ambao alikuwa juu yao; lakini hata hivyo wale wafuatao baada yake hawatamfurahia. Hakika hayo pia ni ubatili, na kujilisha upepo.
There is no limit to all the people who were before them. Yet the successor will not be celebrated by those who come even later. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.