Phungdeikung 12

1 Na nawnae a hninnaw dawk na kasakkung pouk loe. Rucatnae a hninnaw a pha teh kai dawk a nawmnae awmhoeh toe telah na deinae kumnaw a pha hoehnahlan,

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

2 Kanî hoi angnae, thapa hoi âsinaw a mawm hoehnahlan, khorak hnukkhu tâmainaw bout a tho hoehnahlan, Bawipa pouk loe.

While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:

3 Hote atueng dawk imkaringnaw a tâsue vaiteh, athakaawme taminaw a thayoun awh han. Cakang kaphawmnaw ayoun dawkvah, a kâhat awh han. Hlalangaw dawk hoi ka khen e taminaw, a mitmawm awh han.

In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,

4 Cakang phawm lawk rek a cai hoeh torei teh, lam teng e longkhanaw teh khan lah ao han. Tava lawk a thai torei teh amom a thaw awh han, la ka sak e tanglanaw abuemlah tha a tawn awh han.

And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;

5 Taminaw ni hmuenrasang hoi lam dawk takikathonaw a taki awh han. Almond kung ni a pei han. Samtong teh amahoima a ri han. Bangkongtetpawiteh, tami teh yungyoe e im koe lah cei lahun lah o dawkvah, ka khui e taminaw ni lam dawk a kâhei awh han.

Also [when] they shall be afraid of [that which is] high, and fears [shall be] in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:

6 Ngun dingyin a thouknae, suimanang a reknae tuiphuek koe tuium kâbawngnae, tui sawnnae rui thawknae, atueng ka phat han.

Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.

7 Hatnae atueng dawk vaiphu teh a thonae talai koelah bout a ban vaiteh, muitha teh na kapoekung Cathut koe bout a ban han.

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

8 Ahrawnghrang doeh, hnopueng teh ahrawnghrang doeh telah phungdeikung ni a ti.

Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all [is] vanity.

9 Phungdeikung teh a lungang dawkvah, tamihunaw, lungang thoumthainae ouk a cangkhai. A pouklak e phungdeilawknaw a noumcai teh a thut.

And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, [and] set in order many proverbs.

10 Phungdeikung ni thai kahawi e lawklung a tawng teh a thut e lawklung teh kathuem e lawk, lawkkatang doeh.

The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and [that which was] written [was] upright, [even] words of truth.

11 Tami lungkaang e lawk teh sâw hoi thoseh, tukhoumkung kalen buet touh koe a hnawng teh tamihu hemnae sumtaboung hoi thoseh a kâvan.

The words of the wise [are] as goads, and as nails fastened [by] the masters of assemblies, [which] are given from one shepherd.

12 Hothloilah, ka capa hot patet e lawk lahoi na dei pouh e hah tarawi loe. Ca lahoi ka thun nakunghai baw thai mahoeh. Ca panki lai hawi khetnae ni na tawn sak.

And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books [there is] no end; and much study [is] a weariness of the flesh.

13 Ahnoungpoung e lawk teh, Cathut taket nateh kâpoelawknaw hah tarawi haw. Hethateh, tami pueng e thaw lah ao.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man.

14 Cathut ni kahawi hno thoseh, kahawihoehe hno thoseh, hro e hnonaw pueng hoi hnocawngca lawk a ceng han.

For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether [it be] good, or whether [it be] evil.