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.4.1 side: Heb. hand 2Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. 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.
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.4.4 every…: Heb. all the rightness of work4.4 for this…: Heb. this is the envy of a man from his neighbour 5The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. 6Better 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. 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.
9¶ Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 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. 11Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12And 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.4.13 who…: Heb. who knoweth not to be admonished 14For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. 15I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. 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.
Ìnilára, làálàá, àti àìlọ́rẹ̀ẹ́
1Mo sì tún wò ó, mo sì rí gbogbo ìnilára tí ó ń ṣẹlẹ̀ lábẹ́ oòrùn,
mo rí ẹkún àwọn tí ara ń ni, wọn kò
sì ní olùtùnú kankan,
agbára wà ní ìkápá àwọn tí ó ń ni wọ́n lára,
wọn kò sì ní olùtùnú kankan.
2Mo jowú àwọn tí wọ́n ti kú
tí wọ́n sì ti lọ,
ó sàn fún wọn ju àwọn
tí wọ́n sì wà láààyè lọ.
3Nítòótọ́, ẹni tí kò tí ì sí sàn ju
àwọn méjèèjì lọ:
ẹni tí kò tí ì rí iṣẹ́ búburú
tí ó ń lọ ní abẹ́ oòrùn.
4Mo sì tún mọ̀ pẹ̀lú, ìdí tí ènìyàn fi ń ṣiṣẹ́ tagbára tagbára láti ṣe àṣeyọrí, nítorí pé wọn ń jowú àwọn aládùúgbò wọn ni. Ṣùgbọ́n, asán ni, ó dàbí ẹni ń gbìyànjú àti mú afẹ́fẹ́.
5Aṣiwèrè ká ọwọ́ rẹ̀ kò
ó sì ba tara rẹ̀ jẹ́.
6Oúnjẹ ẹ̀kúnwọ́ kan pẹ̀lú ìdákẹ́ jẹ́ẹ́jẹ́ sàn ju ẹ̀kúnwọ́ méjì pẹ̀lú wàhálà,
àti gbígba ìyànjú àti lé afẹ́fẹ́ lọ.
7Lẹ́ẹ̀kan sí i, mo tún rí ohun asán kan lábẹ́ oòrùn:
8Ọkùnrin kan ṣoṣo dá wà;
kò ní ọmọkùnrin kankan tàbí ẹbí
kò sí òpin nínú làálàá rẹ̀ gbogbo,
síbẹ̀, ọrọ̀ kò tẹ́ ojú rẹ̀ lọ́rùn,
bẹ́ẹ̀ ni kò sì wí pé, “Nítorí ta ni èmí ṣe ń ṣe làálàá,
àti wí pé, èétiṣe tí mo fi ń fi ìgbádùn du ara mi?”
Eléyìí náà asán ni
iṣẹ́ òsì!
9Ẹni méjì sàn ju ẹnìkan,
nítorí wọ́n ní èrè rere fún làálàá wọn:
10Tí ọ̀kan bá ṣubú lulẹ̀,
ọ̀rẹ́ rẹ̀ le è ràn án lọ́wọ́ kí ó fà á sókè,
ṣùgbọ́n ìyọnu ni fún ọkùnrin náà tí ó ṣubú
tí kò sì ní ẹni tí ó le è ràn án lọ́wọ́!
11Àti pẹ̀lú pé, bí ẹni méjì bá sùn pọ̀, wọn yóò móoru.
Ṣùgbọ́n báwo ni ẹnìkan ṣe le è dá nìkan móoru?
12Bí ó tilẹ̀ jẹ́ pé, a le è kojú ogun ẹnìkan,
àwọn méjì le è gbìjà ara wọn,
ìkọ́ okùn mẹ́ta kì í dùn ún yára fà já.
Asán ni ipò gíga
13Òtòṣì ìpẹ́ẹ̀rẹ̀ tí ó ṣe ọlọ́gbọ́n, ó sàn ju arúgbó àti aṣiwèrè ọba lọ tí kò mọ bí yóò ti ṣe gba ìmọ̀ràn, 14Nítorí pé láti inú túbú ni ó ti jáde láti jẹ ọba, bí a tilẹ̀ bí i ní tálákà ní ìjọba rẹ̀. 15Mo rí gbogbo alààyè tí ń rìn lábẹ́ oòrùn, pẹ̀lú ìpẹ́ẹ̀rẹ̀ kejì tí yóò gba ipò ọba yìí. 16Gbogbo àwọn tí ó wà níwájú wọn kò sì lópin, ọ̀gọ̀ọ̀rọ̀ àwọn ènìyàn ní ó jẹ ọba lé lórí, ẹni tí ó wà ní ipò yìí kò dùn mọ́ àwọn tí ó tẹ̀lé wọn nínú. Asán ni eléyìí pẹ̀lú jẹ́, ó dàbí ẹni ń gbìyànjú àti mú afẹ́fẹ́ ni.
