Mlaliki 12
1 Uzikumbukira mlengi wako masiku a unyamata wako, masiku oyipa asanafike, nthawi isanafike pamene udzanena kuti, “Izi sizikundikondweretsa.”
Remember also thy Creators in days of thy youth, While that the evil days come not, Nor the years have arrived, that thou sayest, 'I have no pleasure in them.'
2 Nthawi ya ukalamba wako, dzuwa ndi kuwala, mwezi ndi nyenyezi zidzada. Mitambo idzabweranso mvula itagwa.
While that the sun is not darkened, and the light, And the moon, and the stars, And the thick clouds returned 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 that keepers of the house tremble, And men of strength have bowed themselves, And grinders have ceased, because they have become few. And those looking out at the windows have become dim,
4 Makutu ako adzatsekeka, ndipo sudzamva phokoso lakunja; sudzamvanso kusinja kwa pa mtondo kapena kulira kwa mbalame mmawa.
And doors have been shut in the street. When the noise of the grinding is low, And [one] riseth at the voice of the bird, And all daughters of song are bowed down.
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.
Also of that which is high they are afraid, And of the low places in the way, And the almond-tree is despised, And the grasshopper is become a burden, And want is increased, For man is going unto his home age-during, And the mourners have gone round through the street.
6 Kumbukira Iye chingwe cha siliva chisanaduke, kapena mbale yagolide isanasweke; mtsuko usanasweke ku kasupe, kapena mkombero usanathyoke ku chitsime.
While that the silver cord is not removed, And the golden bowl broken, And the pitcher broken by the fountain, And the wheel broken at the well.
7 Iyi ndi nthawi imene thupi lidzabwerera ku dothi, kumene linachokera, mzimu udzabwerera kwa Mulungu amene anawupereka.
And the dust returneth to the earth as it was, And the spirit returneth to God who gave it.
8 “Zopanda phindu! Zopandapake!” akutero Mlaliki. “Zonse ndi zopandapake!”
Vanity of vanities, said the preacher, the whole [is] vanity.
9 Mlaliki sanali wozindikira zinthu kokha ayi, komanso ankaphunzitsa anthu. Iye ankasinkhasinkha ndi kufufuzafufuza ndi kulemba mwadongosolo miyambi yambiri.
And further, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge, and gave ear, and sought out — he made right many similes.
10 Mlaliki anafufuzafufuza kuti apeze mawu oyenera, ndipo zimene analemba zinali zolondola ndiponso zoona.
The preacher sought to find out pleasing words, and, written [by] the upright, words of truth.
11 Mawu a anthu anzeru ali ngati zisonga, zokamba zawo zimene anasonkhanitsa zili ngati misomali yokhomera, yoperekedwa ndi mʼbusa mmodzi.
Words of the wise [are] as goads, and as fences planted [by] the masters of collections, they have been given by one shepherd.
12 Samalira mwana wanga, za kuwonjezera chilichonse pa zimenezi. Kulemba mabuku ambiri sikutha, ndipo kuphunzira kwambiri kumatopetsa thupi.
And further, from these, my son, be warned; the making of many books hath 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.
The end of the whole matter let us hear: — 'Fear God, and keep His commands, for this [is] the whole of man.
14 Pakuti Mulungu adzaweruza zochita zonse, kuphatikizanso zinthu zonse zobisika, kaya zabwino kapena zoyipa.
For every work doth God bring into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether good or bad.'
