傳道書 12
1 在你年輕的時日，在災禍的日子來到之前，即在你說的那些「沒有歡樂」的日子來到之前，你應記念你的造主；
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the time of affliction arrives and the years draw near, about which you will say, “These do not please me.”
2 不要等到太陽、光體、月亮、星辰失光，雨後雲彩再來；
Before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain,
3 因為那時，看門者戰慄，大力士屈伏，推磨的婦女因為少而停工，眺望窗外的女人面目昏黑，
when the guardians of the house will tremble, and the strongest men will waver, and those who grind grain will be idle, except for a small number, and those who look through the keyholes will be darkened.
4 兩扇街門將要關閉，磨聲低微，雀鳥息聲，歌女低吟，
And they will close the doors to the street, when the voice of he who grinds the grain will be humbled, and they will be disturbed at the sound of a flying thing, and all the daughters of song shall become deaf.
5 怕上高處，行路危險，杏子被棄，蚱蜢被嫌，續隨子失去效力，因為人要回永久的家鄉，哀悼的人徘徊街頭；
Likewise, they will fear the things above them, and they will dread the way. The almond tree will flourish; the locust will be fattened; and the caper plant will be scattered, because man shall go into the house of his eternity, and the mourners shall wander around in the street.
6 那時銀鏈將斷，金燈將碎，水罐將破於泉旁，輪子將爛於井邊，
Before the silver cord is broken, and the golden band pulls away, and the pitcher is crushed over the fountain, and the wheel is broken above the cistern,
7 灰塵將歸於原來的土中，生氣將歸於天主，因為原是天主之所賜。
and the dust returns to its earth, from which it was, and the spirit returns to God, who granted it.
8 訓道者說：虛而又虛，萬事皆虛。
Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, and all is vanity!
9 訓道者不但是智者，並且教人獲得知識，在沉思推究之後，編撰了許多格言。
And since Ecclesiastes was very wise, he taught the people, and he described what he had accomplished. And while searching, he composed many parables.
10 訓道者費神尋找適當的語句，忠誠地寫下了真理之言。
He sought useful words, and he wrote most righteous words, which were full of truth.
11 智者的話好似錐子，收集起的言論集，好像釘牢的釘子：二者都是一位牧者所賜。
The words of the wise are like a goad, and like nails deeply fastened, which, through the counsel of teachers, are set forth by one pastor.
12 除此之外，我兒，不必再找別的書籍，書不論寫多少，總沒有止境；用功過度，必使身體疲倦。
You should require no more than this, my son. For there is no end to the making of many books. And excessive study is an affliction to the flesh.
13 總而言之：「你應敬畏天主，遵守他的誡命，因為這是眾人的義務。」
Let us all listen together to the end of the discourse. Fear God, and observe his commandments. This is everything for man.
14 因為天主對一切行為，連最隱秘的，不論好壞，都要一一審判。
And so, for all that is done and for each error, God will bring judgment: whether it was good or evil.
