Ecclesiastes 12
1 Remember also thy Creators in days of thy youth, While that the evil days come not, Nor the years have arrived, that thou sayest, 'I have no pleasure in them.'
Ɖo ŋku wò Wɔla dzi le wò ɖekakpuiŋkekewo me, hafi ŋkeke vɔ̃wo nava eye ƒe siwo me màgakpɔ dzidzɔ le agbeɖuɖu ŋu le o la nagogo.
2 While that the sun is not darkened, and the light, And the moon, and the stars, And the thick clouds returned after the rain.
Ɖo ŋku wò Wɔla dzi hafi ɣe, kekeli, ɣleti kple ɣletiviwo nado viviti, eye lilikpowo natrɔ agbɔ le tsidzadza megbe,
3 In the day that keepers of the house tremble, And men of strength have bowed themselves, And grinders have ceased, because they have become few. And those looking out at the windows have become dim,
elabena ɣeyiɣi aɖe gbɔna esime tsitsi ana wò afɔwo kple abɔwo nadzo nyanyanya, wò ata sesẽwo nagbɔdzɔ, wò aɖuwo dometɔ geɖewo natu eye wò ŋkuwo hã natsi
4 And doors have been shut in the street. When the noise of the grinding is low, And [one] riseth at the voice of the bird, And all daughters of song are bowed down.
ekema nàna wò nuyiwo namia tititi ne èle nu ɖum esi wò aɖuwo tu vɔ la ta! Àfɔ le fɔŋli, ne xeviwo de asi hadzidzi me, ke màgase nu o eye wò gbe anɔ ƒoƒom, màgate ŋu adzi ha o.
5 Also of that which is high they are afraid, And of the low places in the way, And the almond-tree is despised, And the grasshopper is become a burden, And want is increased, For man is going unto his home age-during, And the mourners have gone round through the street.
Àvɔ̃ na dzidede kple gege, eye nàzu amegãɖeɖi si anɔ zɔzɔm ɖɔɖɔɖɔ, ame si nyɔnugbɔdɔdɔ magadzro o, ame si atsi tsitre ɖe ku ƒe agbo nu, eye wòagogo eƒe aƒe mavɔ esime konyifalawo nɔa ablɔ dzi zɔm.
6 While that the silver cord is not removed, And the golden bowl broken, And the pitcher broken by the fountain, And the wheel broken at the well.
Ɛ̃, ɖo ŋku wò Wɔla dzi le wò ɖekakpuiŋkekewo me, hafi agbe ƒe klosaloka natso, sikagba nagbã, tɔmedeze nagbã le tsi dzidzi to, tsidumɔ ƒe troƒe nafli ɖa,
7 And the dust returneth to the earth as it was, And the spirit returneth to God who gave it.
nàgatrɔ azu anyi si nènye tsã eye gbɔgbɔ la natrɔ ayi Mawu, ame si tsɔe na wò la gbɔ.
8 Vanity of vanities, said the preacher, the whole [is] vanity.
Nyagblɔla be nuwo katã nye tofloko ko.
9 And further, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge, and gave ear, and sought out — he made right many similes.
Ke esi Nyagblɔla nye nunyala ta la, eyi nu siwo katã wònya la fiafia amewo dzi. Hekpe ɖe esia ŋu la, eƒo ƒu lododowo, eye wòma wo ɖe tanya vovovowo te,
10 The preacher sought to find out pleasing words, and, written [by] the upright, words of truth.
elabena Nyagblɔla menye nunyala ɖeɖe ko o, ke boŋ enye nufiala nyui aɖe hã. Menye ɖe wòfia nu si wònya la ko wo o, ke boŋ efianɛ to mɔ si do dzidzɔ na wo la dzi.
11 Words of the wise [are] as goads, and as fences planted [by] the masters of collections, they have been given by one shepherd.
Nunyala ƒe nyawo le abe nutɔame siwo tɔa ame, dea lãme na ame hena nuwɔwɔ eye woƒoa nyateƒe veviwo ɖe to la ene. Sukuvi siwo sea nu siwo woƒe nufialawo gblɔna na wo la, zua nunyalawo.
12 And further, from these, my son, be warned; the making of many books hath no end, and much study [is] a weariness of the flesh.
Ke vinye, na woaxlɔ̃ nu wò. Seɖoƒe aɖeke meli na agbalẽ geɖe ŋɔŋlɔ o eye nusɔsrɔ̃ tea ɖeɖi ame ƒe ŋutilã ŋu.
13 The end of the whole matter let us hear: — 'Fear God, and keep His commands, for this [is] the whole of man.
Nya blibo la ƒe taƒonyae nye: Vɔ̃ Mawu, eye nàwɔ eƒe sewo dzi, elabena esia koe nye amegbetɔwo ƒe dɔdeasiwo katã ƒe ƒuƒoƒo
14 For every work doth God bring into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether good or bad.'
elabena Mawu adrɔ̃ ʋɔnu mí le nu siwo katã míewɔ le adzame kple gaglãgbe siaa, eɖanye nyui alo vɔ̃.
