傳道書 12
1 你趁着年幼、衰敗的日子尚未來到，就是你所說，我毫無喜樂的那些年日未曾臨近之先，當記念造你的主。
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of adversity come and the years approach of which you will say, “I find no pleasure in them,”
2 不要等到日頭、光明、月亮、星宿變為黑暗，雨後雲彩反回，
before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened, and the clouds return after the rain,
3 看守房屋的發顫，有力的屈身，推磨的稀少就止息，從窗戶往外看的都昏暗；
on the day the keepers of the house tremble and the strong men stoop, when those grinding cease because they are few and those watching through windows see dimly,
4 街門關閉，推磨的響聲微小，雀鳥一叫，人就起來，唱歌的女子也都衰微。
when the doors to the street are shut and the sound of the mill fades away, when one rises at the sound of a bird and all the daughters of song grow faint,
5 人怕高處，路上有驚慌，杏樹開花，蚱蜢成為重擔，人所願的也都廢掉；因為人歸他永遠的家，弔喪的在街上往來。
when men fear the heights and dangers of the road, when the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper loses its spring, and the caper berry shrivels— for then man goes to his eternal home and mourners walk the streets.
6 銀鍊折斷，金罐破裂，瓶子在泉旁損壞，水輪在井口破爛，
Remember Him before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is crushed, before the pitcher is shattered at the spring and the wheel is broken at the well,
7 塵土仍歸於地，靈仍歸於賜靈的上帝。
before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8 傳道者說：「虛空的虛空，凡事都是虛空。」
“Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile!”
9 再者，傳道者因有智慧，仍將知識教訓眾人；又默想，又考查，又陳說許多箴言。
Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.
10 傳道者專心尋求可喜悅的言語，是憑正直寫的誠實話。
The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.
11 智慧人的言語好像刺棍；會中之師的言語又像釘穩的釘子，都是一個牧者所賜的。
The words of the wise are like goads, and the anthologies of the masters are like firmly embedded nails driven by a single Shepherd.
12 我兒，還有一層，你當受勸戒：著書多，沒有窮盡；讀書多，身體疲倦。
And by these, my son, be further warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.
13 這些事都已聽見了，總意就是：敬畏上帝，謹守他的誡命，這是人所當盡的本分。
When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.
14 因為人所做的事，連一切隱藏的事，無論是善是惡，上帝都必審問。
For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
