Ecclesiastes 12
1 Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the time of affliction come, and the years draw nigh of which thou shalt say: They please me not:
Uzikumbukira mlengi wako masiku a unyamata wako, masiku oyipa asanafike, nthawi isanafike pamene udzanena kuti, “Izi sizikundikondweretsa.”
2 Before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars be darkened, and the clouds return after the rain:
Nthawi ya ukalamba wako, dzuwa ndi kuwala, mwezi ndi nyenyezi zidzada. Mitambo idzabweranso mvula itagwa.
3 When the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall stagger, and the grinders shall be idle in a small number, and they that look through the holes shall be darkened:
Nthawi imene manja ako adzanjenjemera, miyendo yako idzafowoka, pamene mano ako adzalephera kutafuna chifukwa ndi owerengeka, ndipo maso ako adzayamba kuchita chidima.
4 And they shall shut the doors in the street, when the grinder’s voice shall be low, and they shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall grow deaf.
Makutu ako adzatsekeka, ndipo sudzamva phokoso lakunja; sudzamvanso kusinja kwa pa mtondo kapena kulira kwa mbalame mmawa.
5 And they shall fear high things, and they shall be afraid in the way, the almond tree shall flourish, the locust shall be made fat, and the caper tree shall be destroyed: because man shall go into the house of his eternity, and the mourners shall go round about in the street.
Imeneyi ndiyo nthawi imene anthu amaopa kupita kumalo okwera, amaopa kuyenda mʼmisewu; Mutu umatuwa kuti mbuu, amayenda modzikoka ngati ziwala ndipo chilakolako chimatheratu. Nthawi imeneyo munthu amapita ku nyumba yake yamuyaya ndipo anthu olira maliro amayendayenda mʼmisewu.
6 Before the silver cord be broken, and the golden fillet shrink back, and the pitcher be crushed at the fountain, and the wheel be broken upon the cistern,
Kumbukira Iye chingwe cha siliva chisanaduke, kapena mbale yagolide isanasweke; mtsuko usanasweke ku kasupe, kapena mkombero usanathyoke ku chitsime.
7 And the dust return into its earth, from whence it was, and the spirit return to God, who gave it.
Iyi ndi nthawi imene thupi lidzabwerera ku dothi, kumene linachokera, mzimu udzabwerera kwa Mulungu amene anawupereka.
8 Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, and all things are vanity.
“Zopanda phindu! Zopandapake!” akutero Mlaliki. “Zonse ndi zopandapake!”
9 And whereas Ecclesiastes was very wise, he taught the people, and declared the things that he had done: and seeking out, he set forth many parables.
Mlaliki sanali wozindikira zinthu kokha ayi, komanso ankaphunzitsa anthu. Iye ankasinkhasinkha ndi kufufuzafufuza ndi kulemba mwadongosolo miyambi yambiri.
10 He sought profitable words, and wrote words most right, and full of truth.
Mlaliki anafufuzafufuza kuti apeze mawu oyenera, ndipo zimene analemba zinali zolondola ndiponso zoona.
11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails deeply fastened in, which by the counsel of masters are given from one shepherd.
Mawu a anthu anzeru ali ngati zisonga, zokamba zawo zimene anasonkhanitsa zili ngati misomali yokhomera, yoperekedwa ndi mʼbusa mmodzi.
12 More than these, my son, require not. Of making many books there is no end: and much study is an affliction of the flesh.
Samalira mwana wanga, za kuwonjezera chilichonse pa zimenezi. Kulemba mabuku ambiri sikutha, ndipo kuphunzira kwambiri kumatopetsa thupi.
13 Let us all hear together the conclusion of the discourse. Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is all man:
Basi zonse zamveka; mathero a nkhaniyi ndi awa: uziopa Mulungu ndi kusunga malamulo ake, pakuti umenewu ndiwo udindo wa anthu onse.
14 And all things that are done, God will bring into judgment for every error, whether it be good or evil.
Pakuti Mulungu adzaweruza zochita zonse, kuphatikizanso zinthu zonse zobisika, kaya zabwino kapena zoyipa.
