Eklezyas 12
1 Anplis, sonje Kreyatè ou a nan jou jenès ou yo, avan move jou yo rive e ane yo pwoche lè ou va di: “Mwen pa pran plezi nan yo;”
Also call to mind your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of difficulty come, and before the years arrive when you say, “I have no pleasure in them,”
2 Avan solèy la ak limyè a, lalin nan ak zetwal yo vin tounwa, e nwaj yo retounen apre lapli yo;
do this before the light of the sun and the moon and the stars grows dark, and dark clouds return after the rain.
3 nan jou ke gadyen kay la tranble a, e mesye pwisan yo vin koube a. Lè sa yo k ap moule a rete san travay akoz anpil nan yo ki manke, e sila k ap gade nan fenèt yo vin mal pou wè.
That will be the time when the palace guards will tremble, and strong men are bent over, and the women who grind cease because they are few, and those who look out of windows no longer see clearly.
4 Lè pòt vè lari yo vin fèmen akoz bri moulen an vin ba, e yon moun va leve ak son zwazo a, epi tout fi chanson yo va rete ba.
That will be the time when the doors are shut in the street, and the sound of grinding stops, when men are startled at the voice of a bird, and the singing of girls' voices fades away.
5 Anplis mesye yo va vin pè yon wo plas ak gwo danje k ap vini a. Lè pye zanmann nan fleri, krikèt volan rale kò l olon wout la, e dezi gason an pa ka. Paske lòm nan ap prale nan kay etènèl li a, pandan sila k ap fè dèy yo vire toupatou nan wout la.
That will be the time when men become afraid of heights and of dangers along on the road, and when the almond tree blossoms, and when grasshoppers drag themselves along, and when natural desires fail. Then man goes to his eternal home and the mourners go down the streets.
6 Sonje Li avan kòd ajan an kase, e bòl an lò a kraze kivèt dlo la kote pwi a vin fann, e wou sitèn nan vin kraze.
Call to mind your Creator before the silver cord is cut, or the golden bowl is crushed, or the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the water wheel is broken at the well,
7 Paske konsa pousyè la va retounen nan tè a jan li te ye a, e lespri a va retounen kote Bondye ki te bay li a.
before the dust returns to the earth where it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8 “Vanite sou vanite”, predikatè a di: “tout se vanite!”
“A mist of vapor,” says the Teacher, “everything is vanishing vapor.”
9 Anplis akoz li te yon nonm saj, predikatè a te enstwi pèp la ak konesans. Wi, li te reflechi, chache twouve, e te aranje anpil pwovèb.
The Teacher was wise and he taught the people knowledge. He studied and contemplated and set in order many proverbs.
10 Predikatè a te chache jwenn bèl mò pou ekri pawòl verite yo byen kòrèk.
The Teacher sought to write using vivid, upright words of truth.
11 Pawòl a moun saj yo tankou pwent pike bèt yo ye; tankou klou ki kloure nèt, se konsa ansanm a pawòl sila yo ye. Se yon sèl Bèje ki bay yo tout.
The words of wise people are like goads. Like nails driven deeply are the words of the masters in collections of their proverbs, which are taught by one shepherd.
12 Men anplis ke sa, fis mwen, veye byen: ekri anpil liv se yon bagay san rete, e anpil devosyon a liv yo va fatige kò ou.
My son, be aware of something more: the making of many books, which has no end and much study brings weariness to the body.
13 Konklizyon lè tout bagay fin tande se: Gen lakrent Bondye e kenbe kòmandman li yo, akoz se sa ki aplike a tout moun.
The end of the matter after everything has been heard, is that you must fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of mankind.
14 Paske Bondye va pote tout zèv nan jijman; tout sa ki kache, kit li bon kit li mal.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
