1 So I returned, and considered 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 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. 3 Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4 ¶ Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit. 5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. 6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
7 ¶ Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. 8 There is one alone , and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he , For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
9 ¶ Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone ? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13 ¶ Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. 14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. 15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. 16 There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Kudziyidzika mu shango
1 Kakale ndakabona kutshambilidziwa kose kunoshingikala mu shango. Tjidzobona, mishodzi ye banotshambilidziwa, ngono akuna unobanyaladza! Ku lubizho gwe batshambilidzi babo kwakabe kuna simba, ngono kwakabe kusina unobanyaladza. 2 Ndakaalakana zwangu kuti bathu bakafazwabo kale banoyita pana banotjila, 3 koga unobapinda bose ndeusathu akabepo, kakale aathu akabona mishingo mibiibi inoshingikala mu shango. 4 Ipapo ndakabona kuti kukakanyala ne kushinga ne bunyambi zodwa mu kuyemula zwe mbakidzani naye. Ikoku naiko madatha ne tatana ne phepo. 5 Tjilengwe tjofukata maboko atjo, tjikazwija nyama. 6 Koyita kutukununu kunozhala luboko ngono una mbakiso, pana kunozhala maboko mabili ngono azhele kushinga ne kutatana ne phepo. 7 Kakale, ndakabona madatha mu shango, 8 nthu usina uwe, kene mwana we tjilume kene nnung'una, koga egala eshinga koga ne mesho awe aatoguta fumwa, kwaasingake akabhuzwa kuti, “Iko ndodziyilila ani zwingapa ndizwinyima nzipo?” Ikokubo madatha ne nja usingashathise. 9 Bathu babili banopinda nng'ompela, ngobe bana mbhayilo mbuya we nshingo wabo. 10 Ngobe ha bewila pasi, mmwe unomusa nkwinya, yee mme wee wapalala iye uyega unoti ewila pasi akashaya unommusa. 11 Kakale, ha babili beyizela bose, banodziyigwa, koga nthu ungadziyigwa tjini aliyega? 12 Nthu unotubula kunda mmwe unobe aliyega, koga babili aangamililane nabo. Nsungo wakakoshiwa katatu autothubuka tjinyolotjo. 13 Nzhuzha we nshayi kakale akatjenjela unopinda mambo we nthuntana we tjilengwe, usingatole mikumbulo ye bathu, 14 nenguba akati edwa ku ng'umba ye busungwa kabigwa mambo koga mu bumambo gugwe wakabe azwagwa ali nshayi. 15 Ndakabona bose batjili banoyendayenda mu shango, kang'ompela ne ntjetjana iwouje wakabe akafanila kuma mu bumo gugwe, 16 kwakabe kuna bathu basibashoma ntjetjana ali pezhugwi kwabo bose. Nekwakajalo ibabo banowozha shule abatowon'amutjila. Malebeswa wose ikoku madatha ne kutatana ne phepo.