1
Kuna baa nililoliona mimi chini ya jua, nalo linawalemea wanadamu kwa uzito;
There is another evil I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily upon mankind:
2
mtu aliyepewa na Mungu mali, ukwasi, na heshima, hata asipungukiwe na kitu cho chote kwa nafsi yake, katika yote anayoyatamani walakini Mungu hamwezeshi kula katika hizo; bali mgeni hula. Hayo ndiyo ubatili hasa, nayo ni ugonjwa mbaya.
God gives a man riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires; but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a grievous affliction.
3
Mtu akizaa watoto mia, akaishi miaka mingi, nazo siku za maisha yake ni nyingi, lakini nafsi yake haikushiba mema; tena ikiwa, zaidi ya hayo, amekosa maziko; mimi nasema, Heri mimba iliyoharibika kuliko huyo;
A man may father a hundred children and live for many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he is unsatisfied with his prosperity and does not even receive a proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.
4
yaani, hiyo huja katika ubatili, na huenda gizani, nalo jina lake limefunikwa giza;
For a stillborn child enters in futility and departs in darkness, and his name is shrouded in obscurity.
5
tena, haikuliona jua wala kulifahamu; basi, hii imepata kustarehe kuliko yule;
The child, though neither seeing the sun nor knowing anything, has more rest than that man,
6
naam, ajapoishi miaka elfu mara mbili, asijiburudishe kwa mema; je! Wote hawaendi mahali pamoja?
even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?
7
Kazi yote ya binadamu ni kwa kinywa chake, Walakini hata hivyo nafsi yake hashibi.
All a man’s labor is for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied.
8
Kwa maana mwenye hekima hupata faida gani kuliko mpumbavu? Au maskini ana nini kuliko yeye ajuaye kwenda mbele ya walio hai?
What advantage, then, has the wise man over the fool? What gain comes to the poor man who knows how to conduct himself before others?
9
Heri kuona kwa macho, Kuliko kutanga-tanga kwa tamaa. Hayo nayo ni ubatili, na kujilisha upepo.
Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
10
Na awe kitu cho chote, aliitwa jina lake zamani za kale, naye amejulikana kuwa ndiye mwanadamu; wala hawezi kabisa kushindana na yeye aliye na uwezo kuliko yeye mwenyewe.
Whatever exists was named long ago, and it is known what man is; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he.
11
Basi, kwa kuwa kuna mambo mengi yaongezayo ubatili, mwanadamu hufaidiwa nini?
For the more words, the more futility—and how does that profit anyone?
12
Kwa maana ni nani ajuaye yaliyo mema ya mwanadamu katika maisha yake, siku zote za maisha yake ya ubatili, anayoishi kama kivuli? Kwa maana ni nani awezaye kumweleza mwanadamu mambo yatakayofuata baada yake chini ya jua?
For who knows what is good for a man during the few days in which he passes through his fleeting life like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will come after him under the sun?