Nyagblɔla 12
1 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.
Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw near, when you will say, "I have no pleasure in them;"
2 Ɖo ŋku wò Wɔla dzi hafi ɣe, kekeli, ɣleti kple ɣletiviwo nado viviti, eye lilikpowo natrɔ agbɔ le tsidzadza megbe,
Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;
3 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
in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look out of the windows are darkened,
4 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.
and the doors shall be shut in the street; when the sound of the grinding is low, and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low;
5 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.
Also, they are afraid of heights, and of terrors in the way; and the almond tree blossoms, and the grasshopper is burdened, and the caper bush fails; because man goes to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets:
6 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,
before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the spring, or the wheel broken at the cistern,
7 nàgatrɔ azu anyi si nènye tsã eye gbɔgbɔ la natrɔ ayi Mawu, ame si tsɔe na wò la gbɔ.
and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8 Nyagblɔla be nuwo katã nye tofloko ko.
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher. All is vanity.
9 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,
Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
10 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.
The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth.
11 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.
The words of the wise are like goads; and like nails well fastened are words from the masters of collections, which are given from one shepherd.
12 Ke vinye, na woaxlɔ̃ nu wò. Seɖoƒe aɖeke meli na agbalẽ geɖe ŋɔŋlɔ o eye nusɔsrɔ̃ tea ɖeɖi ame ƒe ŋutilã ŋu.
Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
13 Nya blibo la ƒe taƒonyae nye: Vɔ̃ Mawu, eye nàwɔ eƒe sewo dzi, elabena esia koe nye amegbetɔwo ƒe dɔdeasiwo katã ƒe ƒuƒoƒo
This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
14 elabena Mawu adrɔ̃ ʋɔnu mí le nu siwo katã míewɔ le adzame kple gaglãgbe siaa, eɖanye nyui alo vɔ̃.
For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.
