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 returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors was power, and they had no comforter.
2Naizvozvo ndakati vakafa, vakanguva vafa, vanomufaro kupfuura vapenyu vachiri vapenyu.
2Then I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive;
3Zvirokwazvo, ndakati agere kutongovapo, iye asina kuona basa rakaipa rinoitwa pasi pezuva anomufaro kupfuura vapenyu.
3and more fortunate than both is he who 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.
4And I saw all labour, and all success of work, that it is man's jealousy of his neighbour. This also is vanity and pursuit of the 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 both hands full with labour and pursuit of the wind.
7Zvino ndakadzoka, ndikaona zvisina maturo pasi pezuva.
7And 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 [alone] and without a second; also he hath neither son nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour, neither is his eye satisfied with riches, and [he saith not], For whom then am I labouring, and depriving my soul of good? This also is vanity and a grievous occupation.
9Vaviri vanopfuura mumwe, nekuti vanomubayiro wakanaka wokubata kwavo.
9Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for 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 will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and who 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 alone be warm?
12Kana munhu akavamba mumwe, vaviri vangamudzivisa; rwonzi rwakakoshwa mutatu harungakurumidzi kudamburwa.
12And if a [man] overpower the one, the 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 but wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth no more how to be admonished.
14nekuti akabuda mutirongo kuzova mambo; zvirokwazvo, kunyange paushe hwake akaberekwa ari murombo.
14For out of the prison-house he came forth to reign, although he was born poor in his kingdom.
15Ndakaona vapenyu vose vanofamba pasi pezuva, vachitevera jaya, iye wechipiri, wakamuka panzvimbo yake.
15I saw all the living that walk under the sun, with the child, the second, that should stand 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.
16[There is] no end of all the people, of all that stood before them; those however that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after the wind.