Kohelethu 11
1 Ikia irio ciaku igũrũ rĩa maaĩ, nĩ ũndũ thuutha wa matukũ maingĩ nĩũgaaciona rĩngĩ.
Cast your bread over running waters. For, after a long time, you shall find it again.
2 He andũ mũgwanja rwĩga, ĩĩ, o na ũhe andũ anana, nĩgũkorwo wee ndũngĩmenya mũtino ũrĩa ũngĩũka bũrũri-inĩ.
Give a portion to seven, and indeed even to eight. For you do not know what evil may be upon the earth in the future.
3 Matu mangĩiyũra mbura, mamiuragia gũkũ thĩ. Mũtĩ ũngĩgũa na mwena wa gũthini, kana mwena wa gathigathini, o harĩa ũgũũaga, hau no ho ũikaraga.
If the clouds have been filled, they will pour forth rain upon the earth. If a tree falls to the south, or to the north, or to whatever direction it may fall, there it shall remain.
4 Mũndũ ũrĩa wothe ũcũthagĩrĩria rũhuho, ndahaandaga; nake ũrĩa ũroraga matu, ndagethaga.
Whoever heeds the wind will not sow. And whoever considers the clouds will never reap.
5 Tondũ ndũũĩ njĩra ĩrĩa rũhuho rũgeraga, o na kana ũrĩa mwana athondekagwo nda-inĩ ya nyina, ũguo noguo ũtangĩmenya wĩra wa Ngai, o we Mũũmbi wa indo ciothe.
In the same manner that you do not know the way of the spirit, nor the way that bones are joined together in the womb of a pregnant woman, so you do not know the works of God, who is the Maker of all.
6 Haanda mbeũ ciaku rũciinĩ, na hwaĩ-inĩ-rĩ, ndũkahurũkie moko maku, nĩgũkorwo ndũũĩ iria ikaagĩra, kana nĩ ici, kana nĩ icio ingĩ, kana hihi ikaagĩra o cierĩ.
In the morning, sow your seed, and in the evening, do not let your hand cease. For you do not know which of these may rise up, the one or the other. But if both rise up together, so much the better.
7 Ũtheri nĩ mwega, namo maitho nĩmakenagĩra kuona riũa.
Light is pleasant, and it is delightful for the eyes to see the sun.
8 Na rĩrĩ, mũndũ o na angĩgĩtũũra muoyo mĩaka mĩingĩ atĩa-rĩ, nĩamĩkenagĩre yothe. No nĩaririkanage matukũ ma nduma, tondũ magaakorwo marĩ maingĩ. Maũndũ mothe magooka nĩ ma tũhũ.
If a man lives for many years, and if he has rejoiced in all of these, he must remember the many days of the dark times, which, when they will have arrived, will accuse the past of vanity.
9 Atĩrĩrĩ, wee mwanake ũyũ, kenagĩra ũnini waku, na ũreke ngoro yaku ĩgũkenagie matukũ-inĩ ma wĩthĩ waku. Thiiaga na mĩthiĩre ĩrĩa wĩyendeire na ngoro yaku, o na ĩrĩa yonagwo ĩrĩ mĩega nĩ maitho maku, no ũmenye atĩrĩ, harĩ maũndũ macio mothe, Ngai nĩagagũciirithia.
So then, rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart remain in what is good during the days of your youth. And walk in the ways of your heart, and with the perception of your eyes. And know that, concerning all these things, God will bring you to judgment.
10 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio, eheria gwĩtanga ngoro-inĩ yaku, na weherie mathĩĩna mwĩrĩ-inĩ waku, tondũ wĩthĩ waku na hinya wa mwĩrĩ no cia tũhũ.
Remove anger from your heart, and set aside evil from your flesh. For youth and pleasure are empty.
