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,”
Anplis, sonje Kreyatè ou a nan jou jenès ou yo, avan move jou yo rive e ane yo pwoche lè ou va di: “Mwen pa pran plezi nan yo;”
2 before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened, and the clouds return after the rain,
Avan solèy la ak limyè a, lalin nan ak zetwal yo vin tounwa, e nwaj yo retounen apre lapli yo;
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,
nan jou ke gadyen kay la tranble a, e mesye pwisan yo vin koube a. Lè sa yo k ap moule a rete san travay akoz anpil nan yo ki manke, e sila k ap gade nan fenèt yo vin mal pou wè.
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,
Lè pòt vè lari yo vin fèmen akoz bri moulen an vin ba, e yon moun va leve ak son zwazo a, epi tout fi chanson yo va rete ba.
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.
Anplis mesye yo va vin pè yon wo plas ak gwo danje k ap vini a. Lè pye zanmann nan fleri, krikèt volan rale kò l olon wout la, e dezi gason an pa ka. Paske lòm nan ap prale nan kay etènèl li a, pandan sila k ap fè dèy yo vire toupatou nan wout la.
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,
Sonje Li avan kòd ajan an kase, e bòl an lò a kraze kivèt dlo la kote pwi a vin fann, e wou sitèn nan vin kraze.
7 before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
Paske konsa pousyè la va retounen nan tè a jan li te ye a, e lespri a va retounen kote Bondye ki te bay li a.
8 “Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile!”
“Vanite sou vanite”, predikatè a di: “tout se vanite!”
9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.
Anplis akoz li te yon nonm saj, predikatè a te enstwi pèp la ak konesans. Wi, li te reflechi, chache twouve, e te aranje anpil pwovèb.
10 The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.
Predikatè a te chache jwenn bèl mò pou ekri pawòl verite yo byen kòrèk.
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.
Pawòl a moun saj yo tankou pwent pike bèt yo ye; tankou klou ki kloure nèt, se konsa ansanm a pawòl sila yo ye. Se yon sèl Bèje ki bay yo tout.
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.
Men anplis ke sa, fis mwen, veye byen: ekri anpil liv se yon bagay san rete, e anpil devosyon a liv yo va fatige kò ou.
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.
Konklizyon lè tout bagay fin tande se: Gen lakrent Bondye e kenbe kòmandman li yo, akoz se sa ki aplike a tout moun.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
Paske Bondye va pote tout zèv nan jijman; tout sa ki kache, kit li bon kit li mal.
