The Vanity of Fame
1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
Heri sifa njema kuliko marhamu nzuri; Na siku ya kufa kuliko siku ya kuzaliwa.
2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.
Heri kuiendea nyumba ya matanga, Kuliko kuiendea nyumba ya karamu. Kwa maana huo ndio mwisho wa wanadamu wote, naye aliye hai atautia moyoni mwake.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
Huzuni ni afadhali kuliko kicheko, Maana simanzi ya uso ni faida ya moyo.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
Moyo wake mwenye hekima umo nyumbani mwa matanga, bali moyo wake mpumbavu umo nyumbani mwa furaha.
5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
Heri kusikia laumu ya wenye hekima, Kuliko mtu kusikia wimbo wa wapumbavu;
6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
Maana kama mlio wa miiba chini ya sufuria, Ndivyo kilivyo kicheko cha mpumbavu. Hayo nayo ni ubatili.
7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
Kweli jeuri humpumbaza mwenye hekima, Na rushwa huuharibu ufahamu.
8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
Heri mwisho wa neno kuliko mwanzo wake, Na mvumilivu rohoni kuliko mwenye roho ya kiburi.
9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
Usifanye haraka kukasirika rohoni mwako, Maana hasira hukaa kifuani mwa wapumbavu.
10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
Usiseme, Kwani siku za kale kupita siku hizi? Maana si kwa hekima uulizavyo neno hilo.
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
Hekima ni njema, mfano wa urithi; Naam, nayo ni bora kwao walionao jua.
12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
Kwa maana hekima ni ulinzi, kama vile fedha ilivyo ulinzi; na ubora wa maarifa ni ya kwamba hekima humhifadhi yeye aliye nayo.
13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
Tafakari vema kazi yake Mungu; kwa sababu ni nani awezaye kukinyosha kitu kile alichokipotosha yeye?
14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.
Siku ya kufanikiwa ufurahi, Na siku ya mabaya ufikiri. Mungu ameifanya hiyo moja kwenda sambamba na hiyo ya pili, ili mwanadamu asipate kulijua neno lo lote litakalofuata baada yake.
15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.
Mambo hayo yote nimeyaona mimi katika siku za ubatili wangu, yuko mwenye haki apoteaye katika haki yake, yuko na mtu mwovu azidishaye maisha yake katika udhalimu wake.
16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
Usiwe na haki kupita kiasi; Wala usijiongezee hekima mno; Kwani kujiangamiza mwenyewe?
17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
Usiwe mwovu kupita kiasi; Wala usiwe mpumbavu; Kwani ufe kabla ya wakati wako?
18 It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.
Ni vizuri kwamba ulishike neno hilo; naam, hata kwa neno hilo tena usiuondoe mkono wako; kwa kuwa mtu yule amchaye Mungu atatoka katika hayo yote.
19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
Hekima ni nguvu zake mwenye hekima, Zaidi ya wakuu kumi waliomo mjini.
20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Bila shaka hakuna mwanadamu mwenye haki hapa duniani, ambaye afanya mema, asifanye dhambi.
21 Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:
Tena, usitie moyoni mwako maneno yote yaliyosemwa; usije ukamsikia mtumwa wako mwenyewe ali anakutukana.
22 for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
Kwa kuwa mara nyingi moyo wako pia unajua ya kwamba wewe mwenyewe umewatukana watu wengine.
The Quest for Wisdom
23 All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
Mambo hayo yote mimi nimeyahakikisha katika hekima. Nilisema, Mimi nitakuwa na hekima, lakini imefarakana nami.
24 That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
Mambo yale yaliyo mbali, na yale yaendayo chini sana, ni mtu yupi awezaye kuyatafuta?
25 I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things , and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:
Nikageuka, na moyo wangu ulikazwa katika kujua na kupeleleza, na kuitafuta hekima, na maana ya mambo yaliyoko; ili nifahamu ya kuwa uovu ni upumbavu, na upumbavu ni wazimu.
26 and I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
Nami nimeona lililo na uchungu kupita mauti; yaani, mwanamke ambaye moyo wake ni mitego na tanzi, na mikono yake ni kama vifungo; yeye ampendezaye Mungu atamponyoka, bali mwenye dhambi atanaswa na yeye.
27 Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:
Tazama, asema Mhubiri, mimi nimeyaona hayo kwa kulinganisha hili na hili, ili kuitafuta jumla;
28 which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.
ambayo bado nafsi yangu nikali nikiitafuta, nisiione; mwanamume mmoja katika elfu nimemwona; bali mwanamke mmoja miongoni mwa wote mimi sikumwona.
29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
Tazama, hili tu nimeliona; Mungu amemfanya mwanadamu mnyofu, lakini wamebuni mavumbuzi mengi.
