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.
1And I have turned, and I see all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and lo, the tear of the oppressed, and they have no comforter; and at the hand of their oppressors [is] power, and they have no comforter.
2Naizvozvo ndakati vakafa, vakanguva vafa, vanomufaro kupfuura vapenyu vachiri vapenyu.
2And I am praising the dead who have already died above the living who are yet alive.
3Zvirokwazvo, ndakati agere kutongovapo, iye asina kuona basa rakaipa rinoitwa pasi pezuva anomufaro kupfuura vapenyu.
3And better than both of them [is] he who hath not yet been, in that he hath not seen the evil work that hath been done under the sun.
4Zvino ndakaona kubata kose noumhizha hwose pakubata, kuti munhu anovengwa nowokwake pamusoro pazvo. Naizvozvo hazvina maturo, ndiko kudzingana nemhepo chete.
4And I have seen all the labour, and all the benefit of the work, because for it a man is the envy of his neighbour. Even this [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.
5Benzi rinofungatira maoko aro, richidya nyama yaro.
5The fool is clasping his hands, and eating his own flesh:
6Tsama imwe yorugare inopfuura nokunaka tsama mbiri dzokutambudzika no kudzingana nemhepo.
6`Better [is] a handful [with] quietness, than two handfuls [with] labour and vexation of spirit.`
7Zvino ndakadzoka, ndikaona zvisina maturo pasi pezuva.
7And I have turned, and I see a vain thing under the sun:
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.
8There is one, and there is not a second; even son or brother he hath not, and there is no end to all his labour! His eye also is not satisfied with riches, and [he saith not], `For whom am I labouring and bereaving my soul of good?` This also is vanity, it is a sad travail.
9Vaviri vanopfuura mumwe, nekuti vanomubayiro wakanaka wokubata kwavo.
9The two [are] better than the one, in that they have a good reward by their labour.
10nekuti kana vakawira pasi, mumwe achasimudza shamwari yake; asi ari oga ane nhamo kana achiwira pasi, haano mumwe angamusimudza.
10For if they fall, the one raiseth up his companion, but wo to the one who falleth and there is not a second to raise him up!
11Uyezve, kana vaviri vachivata pamwechete, vachadziyirwa; asi mumwechete angadziyirwa sei?
11Also, if two lie down, then they have heat, but how hath one heat?
12Kana munhu akavamba mumwe, vaviri vangamudzivisa; rwonzi rwakakoshwa mutatu harungakurumidzi kudamburwa.
12And if the one strengthen himself, the two stand against him; and the threefold cord is not hastily broken.
13Jaya murombo, rakachenjera, rinopfuura mambo mutana benzi, asichazivi kutenda kana achirangwa.
13Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who hath not known to be warned any more.
14nekuti akabuda mutirongo kuzova mambo; zvirokwazvo, kunyange paushe hwake akaberekwa ari murombo.
14For from a house of prisoners he hath come out to reign, for even in his own kingdom he hath been poor.
15Ndakaona vapenyu vose vanofamba pasi pezuva, vachitevera jaya, iye wechipiri, wakamuka panzvimbo yake.
15I have seen all the living, who are walking under the sun, with the second youth who doth stand in his place;
16Vanhu vose vakanga vasingaverengwi, ivo vose vakanga vakabatwa naye; kunyange zvakadaro, vanozotevera havangamufariri. Zvirokwazvo, naizvozvowo hazvina maturo, ndiko kudzingana nemhepo chete.
16there is no end to all the people, to all who were before them; also, the latter rejoice not in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.