Mlaliki 12
1 Uzikumbukira mlengi wako masiku a unyamata wako, masiku oyipa asanafike, nthawi isanafike pamene udzanena kuti, “Izi sizikundikondweretsa.”
And remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the days of evil come, and the years overtake [thee] in which thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.
2 Nthawi ya ukalamba wako, dzuwa ndi kuwala, mwezi ndi nyenyezi zidzada. Mitambo idzabweranso mvula itagwa.
While the sun and light are not darkened, nor the moon and the stars; nor the clouds return after the rain:
3 Nthawi imene manja ako adzanjenjemera, miyendo yako idzafowoka, pamene mano ako adzalephera kutafuna chifukwa ndi owerengeka, ndipo maso ako adzayamba kuchita chidima.
in the day wherein the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the mighty men shall become bent, and the grinding [women] cease because they have become few, and the [women] looking out at the windows be dark;
4 Makutu ako adzatsekeka, ndipo sudzamva phokoso lakunja; sudzamvanso kusinja kwa pa mtondo kapena kulira kwa mbalame mmawa.
and they shall shut the doors in the market-place, because of the weakness of the voice of her that grinds [at the mill]; and he shall rise up at the voice of the sparrow, and all the daughters of song shall be brought low;
5 Imeneyi ndiyo nthawi imene anthu amaopa kupita kumalo okwera, amaopa kuyenda mʼmisewu; Mutu umatuwa kuti mbuu, amayenda modzikoka ngati ziwala ndipo chilakolako chimatheratu. Nthawi imeneyo munthu amapita ku nyumba yake yamuyaya ndipo anthu olira maliro amayendayenda mʼmisewu.
and they shall look up, and fears [shall be] in the way, and the almond tree shall blossom, and the locust shall increase, and the caper shall be scattered: because man has gone to his eternal home, and the mourners have gone about the market:
6 Kumbukira Iye chingwe cha siliva chisanaduke, kapena mbale yagolide isanasweke; mtsuko usanasweke ku kasupe, kapena mkombero usanathyoke ku chitsime.
before the silver cord be [let go], or the choice gold be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel run down to the cistern;
7 Iyi ndi nthawi imene thupi lidzabwerera ku dothi, kumene linachokera, mzimu udzabwerera kwa Mulungu amene anawupereka.
[before] the dust also return to the earth as it was, and the spirit return to God who gave it.
8 “Zopanda phindu! Zopandapake!” akutero Mlaliki. “Zonse ndi zopandapake!”
Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher; all is vanity.
9 Mlaliki sanali wozindikira zinthu kokha ayi, komanso ankaphunzitsa anthu. Iye ankasinkhasinkha ndi kufufuzafufuza ndi kulemba mwadongosolo miyambi yambiri.
And because the Preacher was wise above [others, so it was] that he taught man excellent knowledge, and the ear will trace out the parables.
10 Mlaliki anafufuzafufuza kuti apeze mawu oyenera, ndipo zimene analemba zinali zolondola ndiponso zoona.
The Preacher sought diligently to find out acceptable words, and a correct writing, [even] words of truth.
11 Mawu a anthu anzeru ali ngati zisonga, zokamba zawo zimene anasonkhanitsa zili ngati misomali yokhomera, yoperekedwa ndi mʼbusa mmodzi.
The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails firmly fastened, which have been given from one shepherd by agreement.
12 Samalira mwana wanga, za kuwonjezera chilichonse pa zimenezi. Kulemba mabuku ambiri sikutha, ndipo kuphunzira kwambiri kumatopetsa thupi.
And moreover, my son, guard thyself by means of them: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
13 Basi zonse zamveka; mathero a nkhaniyi ndi awa: uziopa Mulungu ndi kusunga malamulo ake, pakuti umenewu ndiwo udindo wa anthu onse.
Hear the end of the matter, the sun: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole man.
14 Pakuti Mulungu adzaweruza zochita zonse, kuphatikizanso zinthu zonse zobisika, kaya zabwino kapena zoyipa.
For God will bring every work into judgment, with everything that has been overlooked, whether [it be] good, or whether [it be] evil.
