1I’ve seen another evil thing on this earth. And it’s a heavy load on human beings. 2God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor. They have everything their hearts desire. But God doesn’t let them enjoy those things. Instead, strangers enjoy them. This doesn’t have any meaning. It’s a very evil thing.
3A man might have a hundred children. He might live a long time. But suppose he can’t enjoy his wealth. And suppose he isn’t buried in the proper way. Then it doesn’t matter how long he lives. I’m telling you that a baby that is born dead is better off than that man is. 4That kind of birth doesn’t have any meaning. The baby dies in darkness and leaves this world. And in darkness it is forgotten. 5It didn’t even see the sun. It didn’t know anything at all. But it has more rest than that man does. 6And that’s true even if he lives for 2,000 years but doesn’t get to enjoy his wealth. All people die and go to the grave, don’t they?
7People eat up everything they work to get.
But they are never satisfied.
8What advantage do wise people have
over those who are foolish?
What do poor people gain
by knowing how to act toward others?
9Being satisfied with what you have
is better than always wanting more.
That doesn’t have any meaning either.
It’s like chasing the wind.
10God has already planned what now exists.
He has already decided what a human being is.
No one can argue with someone
who is stronger.
11The more words people use,
the less meaning there is.
And that doesn’t help anyone.
12Who knows what’s good for a person? They live for only a few meaningless days. They pass through life like a shadow. Who can tell them what will happen on earth after they are gone?
1Mahu bɔne foforo bi wɔ owia yi ase a ɛhyɛ nnipa so yiye: 2Onyankopɔn ma onipa ahonyade, adenya ne anuonyam sɛnea biribiara a ne koma pɛ no ɛremmɔ no, nanso Onyankopɔn amma no kwan sɛ ɔmfa nnye nʼani, na ɔhɔho mmom na ɔde gye nʼani. Eyi yɛ ahuhude, ɔhaw a ɛyɛ yaw.
3Onipa betumi anya mma ɔha na wanyin akyɛ; nanso ne mfe dodow yi akyi no, nʼahonya no amma nʼani annye na ne sie nso anyɛ fɛ a, ɔpɔn ba so wɔ mfaso sen no. 4Ne ba no yɛ ade hunu, sum mu na ɔkɔ, na sum akata ne din so. 5Ɛwɔ mu sɛ wanhu owia na onnim hwee de, nanso obenya ahomegye bebree sen nea saa ɔbarima no benya, 6mpo sɛ ɔtena ase mfe apem mmɔho na wamfa nʼahonyade annye nʼani a, wɔn nyinaa nkɔ faako ana?
7Onipa brɛ nyinaa yɛ nʼano ntia,
nanso nʼakɔnnɔde mmee no da.
8Na dɛn na onyansafo wɔ de sen ɔkwasea?
Sɛ ohiani yɛ nʼakwan yiye wɔ afoforo anim a
mfaso bɛn na obenya?
9Nea aniwa hu no
ye sen nea akɔnnɔ kyin hwehwɛ.
Eyi nso yɛ ahuhude,
ɛte sɛ wotaa mframa.
10Nea ɛwɔ hɔ biara, wɔato din dedaw,
na sɛnea onipa te nso, wonim dedaw;
onipa biara rentumi ne nea ɔwɔ ahoɔden
sen no nnye eyi ho akyinnye.
11Nsɛm dɔɔso a,
mu ntease sua,
na so wɔ mfaso ma onipa ana?
12Na hena na onim nea eye ma onipa wɔ ne nkwanna kakraa bi a ɛyɛ ahuhude na ɔfa mu kɔ sɛ sunsuma no mu? Hena na obetumi aka nea ebesi wɔ owia yi ase akyerɛ no bere a ɔkɔ no?
