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 also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw near, when you will say, "I have no pleasure in them;"

2 不要等到太陽、光體、月亮、星辰失光，雨後雲彩再來；

Before the sun, the light, 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，

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 who look out of the windows are darkened,

4 兩扇街門將要關閉，磨聲低微，雀鳥息聲，歌女低吟，

and the doors shall be shut in the street; when the sound of the grinding is low, and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low;

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；

Also, they are afraid of heights, and of terrors in the way; and the almond tree blossoms, and the grasshopper is burdened, and the caper bush fails; because man goes to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets:

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 severed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the spring, or the wheel broken at 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 the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

8 訓道者說：虛而又虛，萬事皆虛。

Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher. 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。

Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

10 訓道者費神尋找適當的語句，忠誠地寫下了真理之言。

The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words 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 goads; and like nails well fastened are words from the masters of collections, which are given from one shepherd.

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。

Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of 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。」

This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of 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。

For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.