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.
1Then I returned and saw 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.
2Naizvozvo ndakati vakafa, vakanguva vafa, vanomufaro kupfuura vapenyu vachiri vapenyu.
2Wherefore I praised the dead that have been long dead more than the living that are yet alive;
3Zvirokwazvo, ndakati agere kutongovapo, iye asina kuona basa rakaipa rinoitwa pasi pezuva anomufaro kupfuura vapenyu.
3yea, better than them both [did I esteem] him that hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4Zvino ndakaona kubata kose noumhizha hwose pakubata, kuti munhu anovengwa nowokwake pamusoro pazvo. Naizvozvo hazvina maturo, ndiko kudzingana nemhepo chete.
4Then I saw all labor and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
5Benzi rinofungatira maoko aro, richidya nyama yaro.
5The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
6Tsama imwe yorugare inopfuura nokunaka tsama mbiri dzokutambudzika no kudzingana nemhepo.
6Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and striving after wind.
7Zvino ndakadzoka, ndikaona zvisina maturo pasi pezuva.
7Then I returned and saw vanity 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 that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches. For whom then, [saith he], do I labor, and deprive my soul of good? This also is vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
9Vaviri vanopfuura mumwe, nekuti vanomubayiro wakanaka wokubata kwavo.
9Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
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 will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up.
11Uyezve, kana vaviri vachivata pamwechete, vachadziyirwa; asi mumwechete angadziyirwa sei?
11Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm [alone]?
12Kana munhu akavamba mumwe, vaviri vangamudzivisa; rwonzi rwakakoshwa mutatu harungakurumidzi kudamburwa.
12And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly 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 knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.
14nekuti akabuda mutirongo kuzova mambo; zvirokwazvo, kunyange paushe hwake akaberekwa ari murombo.
14For out of prison he came forth to be king; yea, even in his kingdom he was born poor.
15Ndakaona vapenyu vose vanofamba pasi pezuva, vachitevera jaya, iye wechipiri, wakamuka panzvimbo yake.
15I saw all the living that walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the second, that stood up in his stead.
16Vanhu vose vakanga vasingaverengwi, ivo vose vakanga vakabatwa naye; kunyange zvakadaro, vanozotevera havangamufariri. Zvirokwazvo, naizvozvowo hazvina maturo, ndiko kudzingana nemhepo chete.
16There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.