Ecclesiastes 12
1 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,”
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。
2 before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened, and the clouds return after the rain,
不要等到日头、光明、月亮、星宿变为黑暗，雨后云彩反回，
3 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,
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；
4 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,
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。
5 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.
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。
6 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,
银链折断，金罐破裂，瓶子在泉旁损坏，水轮在井口破烂，
7 before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
尘土仍归于地，灵仍归于赐灵的 神。
8 “Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile!”
传道者说：“虚空的虚空，凡事都是虚空。”
9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.
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。
10 The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.
传道者专心寻求可喜悦的言语，是凭正直写的诚实话。
11 The words of the wise are like goads, and the anthologies of the masters are like firmly embedded nails driven by a single Shepherd.
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。
12 And by these, my son, be further warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.
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。
13 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.
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。
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
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。
