Salamans Mācītājs 4
1 Un es griezos un redzēju visus spaidus, kas notiek pasaulē, un redzi, tur bija apspiesto asaras, un iepriecinātāja tiem nebija, un viņu spaidītāju roka tiem darīja pāri, un iepriecinātāja tiem nebija.
Then I turned to consider all the ways people oppress others here on earth. Look at the tears of the oppressed—there's no one to comfort them! Powerful people oppress them, and there's no one to comfort them!
2 Tad es slavēju tos mirušos, kas jau bija nomiruši, vairāk nekā tos dzīvos, kas vēl dzīvi.
I congratulated those who were already dead, for the dead are better off than those who are still alive and being oppressed.
3 Un vēl labāki nekā tiem abiem ir tam, kas vēl nemaz nav, kas nemaz vēl nav redzējis to blēdību, kas notiek pasaulē.
But best of all are those who have never existed—they haven't seen the evil things people do to each other here on earth.
4 Vēl es redzēju visādu pūliņu un visādu darba izveicību, ar ko cits citam grib tikt pāri(skaudībā); arī tā ir niecība un grābstīšanās pēc vēja.
I observed that every skill in work comes from competition with others. Once again this is hard to understand, like trying to hold on to the elusive wind.
5 Ģeķis saliek savas rokas un ēd savu paša miesu.
Fools fold their arms and do nothing—so in the end they're all used up.
6 Sauja pilna ar mieru ir labāka nekā abas rokas pilnas ar pūliņu un grābstīšanos pēc vēja.
It's better to earn a little without stress than a lot with too much stress and chasing after the wind.
7 Atkal es griezos un redzēju niecību pasaulē.
Then I turned to consider something else here on earth that is also frustratingly hard to understand.
8 Tur ir viens pats un ne divi, viņam arī nav ne dēla ne brāļa, un viņam ir pūliņu bez gala, un viņa acīm bagātības nepietiek. Kam tad par labu es pūlējos un atrauju savai dvēselei labumu? Tā ir arīdzan niecība un liels grūtums.
What about someone who has no family to help him, no brother or son, who works all the time, but isn't satisfied with the money he makes. “Who am I working for?” he asks himself. “Why am I preventing myself from enjoying life?” Such a situation is hard to explain—it's an evil business!
9 Diviem ir labāki nekā vienam, jo tiem ir laba alga no sava pūliņa.
Two are better than one, for they can help each other in their work.
10 Jo kad tie krīt, tad draugs draugu uzceļ; bet vai tam, kas viens, kad tas krīt un otra nav, kas viņu uzceļ.
If one of them falls down, the other can help them up, but how sad it is for someone who falls down and doesn't have anyone to help them up.
11 Kad divi kopā guļ, tad tiem ir silti, bet kā viens var sasildīties?
In the same way, if two people lie down together, they keep each other warm, but you can't keep yourself warm if you're alone.
12 Un ja kas to vienu pārvarētu, tad tie divi tam taču var pretī stāvēt, un trīskārtīgu auklu drīz nepārraus.
Someone fighting against one other person may win, but not if they are fighting against two. A cord made of three strands can't be torn apart quickly.
13 Labāki nabaga bērns, kas gudrs, nekā vecs ķēniņš, kas ir ģeķis, un vairs nezin mācības pieņemt.
A poor young person who's wise is better than an old and foolish king who no longer accepts advice.
14 Jo šis nāk no cietuma nama un top par ķēniņu, lai gan nabags bija piedzimis savā valstī.
He may even come out of prison to reign over his kingdom, even though he was born poor.
15 Es ieraudzīju visus, kas dzīvo pasaulē, staigājam ar šo jaunekli, to otru, kam bija stāvēt viņa vietā.
I observed everyone here on earth following the youth who takes his place.
16 Visu to ļaužu, kam viņš par priekšnieku, bija bezgalīgs pulks; bet tie, kas vēl pēc būs, par viņu nepriecāsies. Tiešām tā arī ir niecība un grābstīšanās pēc vēja.
He is surrounded by crowds of supporters, but the next generation isn't happy with him. This also illustrates the passing nature of life whose meaning is elusive, like pursuing the wind for understanding.
