Eklesiastes 12
1 Paruru jachwechu kapod utindo, kendo kapok ndalo mag chandruok obiro, ma ubiro wachoe niya, “Onge gima tinde bernwa e piny.”
And remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of evil come, and the years overtake [you] in which you shall say, I have no pleasure in them.
2 Mano en ndalo ma wangʼ chiengʼ, dwe kod sulwe lokore mudho, kendo angʼwengʼo kwako piny bangʼ ka koth osechwe.
While the sun and light are not darkened, nor the moon and the stars; nor the clouds return after the rain:
3 Jorito makonyou koro tetni, jou maroteke koro gumbo, rego biro chungʼ nikech jorego nok, kendo wengeu biro lokore boo ma ok unyal neno maber.
in the day wherein the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the mighty men shall become bent, and the grinding [women] cease because they have become few, and the [women] looking out at the windows be dark;
4 Dhorangeye momanyore gi wangʼ yore nolor kendo koko mar rego ok nowinjre maber; kendo kata mana ywak winy machiewou e nindo ok unuwinji.
and they shall shut the doors in the marketplace, because of the weakness of the voice of her that grinds [at the mill]; and he shall rise up at the voice of the sparrow, and all the daughters of song shall be brought low;
5 Ji noluor kuonde motingʼore gi malo kendo wuoth nobednigi matek e wangʼ yore. Maua mar oyungu thiewo kendo ongogo lak mondo odhi ocham it yien-no, to oyudo ka it yien-no onge gi ndhandhu. Kamano e kaka dhano dhiyo e dalane mosiko ka joywak to dengo e wangʼ yore.
and they shall look up, and fears [shall be] in the way, and the almond tree shall blossom, and the locust shall increase, and the caper shall be scattered: because man has gone to his eternal home, and the mourners have gone about the market:
6 Paruru jachwechu kapod utindo, kendo pok ndalo mar chandruok obiro e piny. Kik urit nyaka ubed joma onge paro gi rieko, kata teko mar timo gimoro,
before the silver cord be [let go], or the choice gold be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel run down to the cistern;
7 e kinde ma lowo dok kuom lowo, to chuny dok ir Nyasaye mane ochweye.
[before] the dust also return to the earth as it was, and the spirit return to God who gave it.
8 Emomiyo an jayalo awacho niya, “Ngima en gima nono! Gik moko duto onge tiendgi!”
Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher; all is vanity.
9 Nikech jayalo ne riek, nopuonjo ji gik moko duto mane ongʼeyo. Noparo matut kendo omanyo mi ochano ngeche mangʼeny kaka owinjore.
And because the Preacher was wise above [others, so it was] that he taught man excellent knowledge, and the ear will trace out the parables.
10 Jayalo nomenyo mana mondo oyud weche makare, kendo gima nondiko noriere tir kendo adiera.
The Preacher sought diligently to find out acceptable words, and a correct writing, [even] words of truth.
11 Weche joma riek jiwo mondo omi giti; to wechego kochoki to chalo gi ludh jokwadh makwayo rombe kata musmal mogur matek. Nyasaye ma jakwadhwa achiel kende ema osechiwo wechego.
The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails firmly fastened, which have been given from one shepherd by agreement.
12 Koro wuoda nitiere gimoro machielo ma bende onego ingʼe. Tich ndiko kitepe ok norum kendo somo mangʼeny biro olo pachi.
And moreover, my son, guard yourself by means of them: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
13 Gik moko duto koro osewinji, omiyo koro ma e wach mogik: Luor Nyasaye kendo rit chikene nimar ma e tich mane omi dhano.
Hear the end of the matter, the sun: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole man.
14 Nimar Nyasaye biro ngʼado bura ni tich moro amora, kaachiel gi gimoro amora mopondo, bed ni ober kata orach.
For God will bring every work into judgement, with everything that has been overlooked, whether [it be] good, or whether [it be] evil.
