传道书 12

1 你趁着年幼、衰败的日子尚未来到，就是你所说，我毫无喜乐的那些年日未曾临近之先，当记念造你的主。

Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the time of affliction come, and the years draw nigh of which thou shalt say: They please me not:

2 不要等到日头、光明、月亮、星宿变为黑暗，雨后云彩反回，

Before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars be darkened, and the clouds return after the rain:

3 看守房屋的发颤，有力的屈身，推磨的稀少就止息，从窗户往外看的都昏暗；

When the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall stagger, and the grinders shall be idle in a small number, and they that look through the holes shall be darkened:

4 街门关闭，推磨的响声微小，雀鸟一叫，人就起来，唱歌的女子也都衰微。

And they shall shut the doors in the street, when the grinder’s voice shall be low, and they shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall grow deaf.

5 人怕高处，路上有惊慌，杏树开花，蚱蜢成为重担，人所愿的也都废掉；因为人归他永远的家，吊丧的在街上往来。

And they shall fear high things, and they shall be afraid in the way, the almond tree shall flourish, the locust shall be made fat, and the caper tree shall be destroyed: because man shall go into the house of his eternity, and the mourners shall go round about in the street.

6 银链折断，金罐破裂，瓶子在泉旁损坏，水轮在井口破烂，

Before the silver cord be broken, and the golden fillet shrink back, and the pitcher be crushed at the fountain, and the wheel be broken upon the cistern,

7 尘土仍归于地，灵仍归于赐灵的 神。

And the dust return into its earth, from whence it was, and the spirit return to God, who gave it.

8 传道者说：“虚空的虚空，凡事都是虚空。”

Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, and all things are vanity.

9 再者，传道者因有智慧，仍将知识教训众人；又默想，又考查，又陈说许多箴言。

And whereas Ecclesiastes was very wise, he taught the people, and declared the things that he had done: and seeking out, he set forth many parables.

10 传道者专心寻求可喜悦的言语，是凭正直写的诚实话。

He sought profitable words, and wrote words most right, and full of truth.

11 智慧人的言语好像刺棍；会中之师的言语又像钉稳的钉子，都是一个牧者所赐的。

The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails deeply fastened in, which by the counsel of masters are given from one shepherd.

12 我儿，还有一层，你当受劝戒：著书多，没有穷尽；读书多，身体疲倦。

More than these, my son, require not. Of making many books there is no end: and much study is an affliction of the flesh.

13 这些事都已听见了，总意就是：敬畏 神，谨守他的诫命，这是人所当尽的本分。

Let us all hear together the conclusion of the discourse. Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is all man:

14 因为人所做的事，连一切隐藏的事，无论是善是恶， 神都必审问。

And all things that are done, God will bring into judgment for every error, whether it be good or evil.