1 Then I looked again at all the injustice that goes on in this world. The oppressed were crying, and no one would help them. No one would help them, because their oppressors had power on their side. 2 I envy those who are dead and gone; they are better off than those who are still alive. 3 But better off than either are those who have never been born, who have never seen the injustice that goes on in this world.
4 I have also learned why people work so hard to succeed: it is because they envy the things their neighbors have. But it is useless. It is like chasing the wind. 5 They say that we would be fools to fold our hands and let ourselves starve to death. 6 Maybe so, but it is better to have only a little, with peace of mind, than be busy all the time with both hands, trying to catch the wind.
7 I have noticed something else in life that is useless. 8 Here is someone who lives alone. He has no son, no brother, yet he is always working, never satisfied with the wealth he has. For whom is he working so hard and denying himself any pleasure? This is useless, too—and a miserable way to live.
9 Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively. 10 If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. But if someone is alone and falls, it's just too bad, because there is no one to help him. 11 If it is cold, two can sleep together and stay warm, but how can you keep warm by yourself? 12 Two people can resist an attack that would defeat one person alone. A rope made of three cords is hard to break.
13-14 Someone may rise from poverty to become king of his country, or go from prison to the throne, but if in his old age he is too foolish to take advice, he is not as well off as a young man who is poor but intelligent. 15 I thought about all the people who live in this world, and I realized that somewhere among them there is a young man who will take the king's place. 16 There may be no limit to the number of people a king rules; when he is gone, no one will be grateful for what he has done. It is useless. It is like chasing the wind.
Ehepeko, uupyakadhi nokwaanombili
1 Konima yaambika onda tala komahepeko agehe taga ningwa kohi yetango. Onda mono omahodhi gaahepekwa nokaye na omutalaleki; aahepeki yawo oya li aanankondo, ihe aahepekwa kaya li ye na omutalaleki. 2 Onkee ano nda tanga aasi mboka ya sa nale, oyo aanelago ye vule aantu mboka ye na omwenyo ngashingeyi. 3 Ihe omunelagolela e ya vule ayehe mboka yaali, oye ngoka inaa valwa noina mona uukolokoshi mboka tau longwa muuyuni.
4 Komeho onda dhimbulula kutya omaipyakidhilo agehe nuulaadhi miilonga owo okusilathana efupa. Naashika wo owaleelela nokutidha ombepo. 5 Egoya otali ihukata omaako e tali ikunya onyama yalyo lyene. 6 Ekaminina lyevululuko oli vule eshambekela lyu udha uupyakadhi nokutidha ombepo.
7 Naishewe onda mono ko oonkambadhala dhowala kohi yetango. 8 Oku na gumwe awikewike kee na mukwawo omutiyali, ke na wo omwanamati nenge omumwayina; ihe kape na ehulilo koonkambadhala dhe adhihe dhiilonga ye, omeho ge itaga kuta uuyamba. Ano otandi ihepekele lye notandi idhilike uuwanawa? Naashika wo owalalela nosha puka.
9 Yaali ye vule gumwe, oshoka oye na ondjambi ombwanawa yomaipyakidhilo giilonga yawo. 10 Oshoka gumwe ngele ta punduka, mukwawo ota vulu oku mu toola po, ihe yayee ngoka ta punduka po pwaa na mukwawo e mu toole po. 11 Natango tuu yaali nge ya lala pamwe, otaa ningilathana omuyenye, ihe gumwe oti ipupyaleke ngiini? 12 Ngele oku na ngoka ta matukile po gumwe, nena ayehe yaali otaye mu thikamene. Ongodhi ya yogohwa oondali ndatu, ihayi tokoka mbala. 13 Omugundjuka ohepele, ihe oku na oondunge, oku vule omukwaniilwa a kulupa kee na oondunge noke shi kulombwelwa, 14 nando a zile mondjedhililo a ka ninge omukwaniilwa, nenge a zile muuhepele a ka lele oshilongo. 15 Onda mono, nkene aanamwenyo ayehe mboka ya kala kohi yetango ya gama kombinga yomugundjuka ngoka te mu landula. 16 Kakwa li ku na ehulilo lyaantu ayehe mboka e ya kwatele komeho. Ihe aatekulu ye inaye mu nyanyukilwa. Osho ngaaka shika owaleelela nokutidha ombepo.
