¹So 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.

¹Zvino ndakadzokazve, ndikaona kumanikidzwa kose kunoitwa pasi pezuva; tarira, kwakanga kune misodzi yavanomanikidzwa, vachishaiwa munyaradzi; vamanikidzi vavo ndivo vakanga vane simba, asi ivo vakashaiwa munyaradzi.

²Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.

²Naizvozvo ndakati vakafa, vakanguva vafa, vanomufaro kupfuura vapenyu vachiri vapenyu.

³Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

³Zvirokwazvo, ndakati agere kutongovapo, iye asina kuona basa rakaipa rinoitwa pasi pezuva anomufaro kupfuura vapenyu.

⁴Again, 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.

⁴Zvino ndakaona kubata kose noumhizha hwose pakubata, kuti munhu anovengwa nowokwake pamusoro pazvo. Naizvozvo hazvina maturo, ndiko kudzingana nemhepo chete.

⁵The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

⁵Benzi rinofungatira maoko aro, richidya nyama yaro.

⁶Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

⁶Tsama imwe yorugare inopfuura nokunaka tsama mbiri dzokutambudzika no kudzingana nemhepo.

⁷Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

⁷Zvino ndakadzoka, ndikaona zvisina maturo pasi pezuva.

⁸There 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.

⁸Mumwe ariko anongogara ari oga, asina mumwe wake; zvirokwazvo, haana mwanakomana kana munin'ina, kunyange zvakadaro kubata kwake hakuna mugumo, uye meso ake haaguti nefuma. Anoti, Zvino ndinobatira ani, ndichinyima moyo wangu zvinhu zvakanaka? Naizvozvowo hazvina maturo, zvirokwazvo ndiko kutambudzika kukuru.

⁹Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

⁹Vaviri vanopfuura mumwe, nekuti vanomubayiro wakanaka wokubata kwavo.

¹⁰For 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.

¹⁰nekuti kana vakawira pasi, mumwe achasimudza shamwari yake; asi ari oga ane nhamo kana achiwira pasi, haano mumwe angamusimudza.

¹¹Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

¹¹Uyezve, kana vaviri vachivata pamwechete, vachadziyirwa; asi mumwechete angadziyirwa sei?

¹²And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

¹²Kana munhu akavamba mumwe, vaviri vangamudzivisa; rwonzi rwakakoshwa mutatu harungakurumidzi kudamburwa.

¹³Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

¹³Jaya murombo, rakachenjera, rinopfuura mambo mutana benzi, asichazivi kutenda kana achirangwa.

¹⁴For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.

¹⁴nekuti akabuda mutirongo kuzova mambo; zvirokwazvo, kunyange paushe hwake akaberekwa ari murombo.

¹⁵I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.

¹⁵Ndakaona vapenyu vose vanofamba pasi pezuva, vachitevera jaya, iye wechipiri, wakamuka panzvimbo yake.

¹⁶There 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.

¹⁶Vanhu vose vakanga vasingaverengwi, ivo vose vakanga vakabatwa naye; kunyange zvakadaro, vanozotevera havangamufariri. Zvirokwazvo, naizvozvowo hazvina maturo, ndiko kudzingana nemhepo chete.