Ecclesiastes 12
1 Let your mind be turned to your Maker in the days of your strength, while the evil days come not, and the years are far away when you will say, I have no pleasure in them;
Ingatlah akan Penciptamu pada masa mudamu, sebelum tiba hari-hari yang malang dan mendekat tahun-tahun yang kaukatakan: "Tak ada kesenangan bagiku di dalamnya!",
2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, are not dark, and the clouds come not back after the rain;
sebelum matahari dan terang, bulan dan bintang-bintang menjadi gelap, dan awan-awan datang kembali sesudah hujan,
3 In the day when the keepers of the house are shaking for fear, and the strong men are bent down, and the women who were crushing the grain are at rest because their number is small, and those looking out of the windows are unable to see;
pada waktu penjaga-penjaga rumah gemetar, dan orang-orang kuat membungkuk, dan perempuan-perempuan penggiling berhenti karena berkurang jumlahnya, dan yang melihat dari jendela semuanya menjadi kabur,
4 When the doors are shut in the street, and the sound of the crushing is low, and the voice of the bird is soft, and the daughters of music will be made low;
dan pintu-pintu di tepi jalan tertutup, dan bunyi penggilingan menjadi lemah, dan suara menjadi seperti kicauan burung, dan semua penyanyi perempuan tunduk,
5 And he is in fear of that which is high, and danger is in the road, and the tree is white with flower, and the least thing is a weight, and desire is at an end, because man goes to his last resting-place, and those who are sorrowing are in the streets;
juga orang menjadi takut tinggi, dan ketakutan ada di jalan, pohon badam berbunga, belalang menyeret dirinya dengan susah payah dan nafsu makan tak dapat dibangkitkan lagi--karena manusia pergi ke rumahnya yang kekal dan peratap-peratap berkeliaran di jalan,
6 Before ever the silver cord is cut, or the vessel of gold is broken, or the pot is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the water-hole;
sebelum rantai perak diputuskan dan pelita emas dipecahkan, sebelum tempayan dihancurkan dekat mata air dan roda timba dirusakkan di atas sumur,
7 And the dust goes back to the earth as it was, and the spirit goes back to God who gave it.
dan debu kembali menjadi tanah seperti semula dan roh kembali kepada Allah yang mengaruniakannya.
8 All things are to no purpose, says the Preacher, all is to no purpose.
Kesia-siaan atas kesia-siaan, kata Pengkhotbah, segala sesuatu adalah sia-sia.
9 And because the Preacher was wise he still gave the people knowledge; searching out, testing, and putting in order a great number of wise sayings.
Selain Pengkhotbah berhikmat, ia mengajarkan juga kepada umat itu pengetahuan. Ia menimbang, menguji dan menyusun banyak amsal.
10 The Preacher made search for words which were pleasing, but his writing was in words upright and true.
Pengkhotbah berusaha mendapat kata-kata yang menyenangkan dan menulis kata-kata kebenaran secara jujur.
11 The words of the wise are pointed, and sayings grouped together are like nails fixed with a hammer; they are given by one guide.
Kata-kata orang berhikmat seperti kusa dan kumpulan-kumpulannya seperti paku-paku yang tertancap, diberikan oleh satu gembala.
12 And further, my son, take note of this: of the making of books there is no end, and much learning is a weariness to the flesh.
Lagipula, anakku, waspadalah! Membuat banyak buku tak akan ada akhirnya, dan banyak belajar melelahkan badan.
13 This is the last word. All has been said. Have fear of God and keep his laws; because this is right for every man.
Akhir kata dari segala yang didengar ialah: takutlah akan Allah dan berpeganglah pada perintah-perintah-Nya, karena ini adalah kewajiban setiap orang.
14 God will be judge of every work, with every secret thing, good or evil.
Karena Allah akan membawa setiap perbuatan ke pengadilan yang berlaku atas segala sesuatu yang tersembunyi, entah itu baik, entah itu jahat.
