Ecclesiastes 4

1 Then again, I, considered all the oppressive deeds which were done under the sun, —and lo! the tears of the oppressed, and they have no comforter, and, on the side of their oppressing, is power, and they have no comforter.

Mo 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.

2 So, I, pronounced happy the dead, who were, already, dead, —more than the living, who were living, still;

Mo jowú àwọn tí wọ́n ti kú tí wọ́n sì ti lọ, ó sàn fún wọn ju àwọn tí wọ́n sì wà láààyè lọ.

3 and, as better than both, him who had not yet come into being, —who had not seen the vexatious work, which was done under the sun.

Nítòótọ́, 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.

4 Then saw, I, all the toil and all the skill of the work, that, for this, a man was envied of his neighbour, —even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.

Mo 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.

5 The dullard, claspeth his hands, and consumeth his own flesh.

Aṣiwèrè ká ọwọ́ rẹ̀ kò ó sì ba tara rẹ̀ jẹ́.

6 Better a handful—with quietness, —than both hands, full—with toil, and feeding on wind.

Oúnjẹ ẹ̀kúnwọ́ kan pẹ̀lú ìdákẹ́ jẹ́ẹ́jẹ́ sàn ju ẹ̀kúnwọ́ méjì pẹ̀lú wàhálà, àti gbígba ìyànjú àti lé afẹ́fẹ́ lọ.

7 Then again, I, looked at a vain thing under the sun: —

Lẹ́ẹ̀kan sí i, mo tún rí ohun asán kan lábẹ́ oòrùn.

8 Here is one, without a second, even son or brother, he hath none, yet is there no end to all his toil, even his eye, is not satisfied with riches, —neither [saith he] For whom, am I toiling, and letting my soul want good? Even this, was vanity, yea a vexatious employment, it was!

Ọkùnrin 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!

9 Better are two, than one, —in that they have a good reward for their toil.

Ẹni méjì sàn ju ẹnìkan, nítorí wọ́n ní èrè rere fún làálàá wọn.

10 For, if the one should fall, [the other] would raise up his companion, —but alas! for him who is alone when he falleth, with no second to raise him up!

Tí 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!

11 Moreover, if two lie together, then have they warmth, —but how can, one, have warmth?

Àti pẹ̀lú pé, bí ẹni méjì bá sùn pọ̀, wọn yóò móoru. Ṣùgbọ́n báwo ni ẹnìkan ṣe le è dá nìkan móoru?

12 And, though an enemy should prevail against one, two, might make a stand before him, —and, a threefold cord, cannot soon be broken.

Bí 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.

13 Better a boy poor and wise, —than a king, old and stupid, who knoweth not how to take warning any longer.

Òtòṣì ìpẹ́ẹ̀rẹ̀ tí ó ṣe ọlọ́gbọ́n, ó sàn ju arúgbó àti aṣiwèrè ọba lọ tí kò mọ bí yóò ti ṣe gba ìmọ̀ràn.

14 For, out of prison, came he forth to reign, yea, even in his own kingdom, was he born poor.

Nítorí pé láti inú túbú ni ó ti jáde láti jẹ ọba, bí a tilẹ̀ bí i ní tálákà ní ìjọba rẹ̀.

15 I saw all the living, who were going hither and thither under the sun, —[that they were] with the boy who was to be the second, who was to stand in the other’s place: —

Mo rí gbogbo alààyè tí ń rìn lábẹ́ oòrùn, pẹ̀lú ìpẹ́ẹ̀rẹ̀ kejì tí yóò gba ipò ọba yìí.

16 There was no end to all the people, to all before whom he came, yet, they who should come later, would not rejoice in him, —surely, even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.

Gbogbo 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.