Kekahuna 12
1 E HOOMANAO oe i kou Mea nana i hana, I na la o kou noho opiopio ana; Oi hiki ole mai na la ino, A hookokoke ole ia mai na makahiki, Au e olelo ai, Aole o'u oluolu i keia mau mea:
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of adversity come and the years approach of which you will say, “I find no pleasure in them,”
2 I ka wa i pouli ole ai ka la, a me ka malamalama, O ka mahina hoi a me na hoku; A hoi ole mai na ao mahope o ka ua:
before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened, and the clouds return after the rain,
3 I ka la i haalulu ai na kiai hale, A kulou ilalo na kanaka ikaika; A oki ka poe wili no ka hapa, A i pouli ai na mea nana ma na puka makani;
on the day the keepers of the house tremble and the strong men stoop, when those grinding cease because they are few and those watching through windows see dimly,
4 A paniia na puka ma ke alanui, I ka wa i uuku mai ai ka leo o ka wili ana; A e ala ae oia i ka leo o ka manu, A e hoohaahaaia na kaikamahine lea i ke oli a pau.
when the doors to the street are shut and the sound of the mill fades away, when one rises at the sound of a bird and all the daughters of song grow faint,
5 A makau lakou i na mea kiekie; Aia hoi ma ke alanui na mea e weliweli ai, Ua hoopailua hoi ka laau alemona, A o ka uhini, he mea ia e kaumaha ai, A lilo no hoi ka hua kepa i mea mikomiko ole; No ka mea, hele ke kanaka i kona hale mau, A hele ka poe kanikau ma na alanui:
when men fear the heights and dangers of the road, when the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper loses its spring, and the caper berry shrivels— for then man goes to his eternal home and mourners walk the streets.
6 Oi moku ole ia ke kaula kala, Aole hoi i naha ke kiaha gula; Aole naha ka bakeke ma ka punawai, Aole hoi i naha ke kaa ma ka luawai.
Remember Him before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is crushed, before the pitcher is shattered at the spring and the wheel is broken at the well,
7 Alaila, e hoi ka lepo i ka honua e like me ia mamua, A o ka uhane, e hoi ia i ke Akua nana ia i haawi mai.
before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8 Lapuwale o na lapuwale, wahi a ke kahuna, pau na mea i ka lapuwale.
“Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile!”
9 Eia hoi kekahi: I ko ke kahuna naauao ana, ua ao mau aku oia i na kanaka; ua noonoo oia, a imi, a hooponopono hoi i na olelo akamai he nui hoa.
Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.
10 Ua imi iho la ke kahuna e loaa mai na olelo oluolu, a o na mea i kakauia, he olelo pololei ia a me ka oiaio hoi.
The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.
11 O na olelo a ka poe naauao, ua like ia me na mea oi, a me na kui i makiaia a paa e ka poe luna o ka ahakanaka, na mea i haawiia'ku ai e ke kahu hookahi.
The words of the wise are like goads, and the anthologies of the masters are like firmly embedded nails driven by a single Shepherd.
12 Eia hoi kekahi: E aoia mai oe, e ka'u keiki, e keia mau mea; o ka hana ana i na buke he nui loa, he mea hope ole ia, a o ka imi nui i ka palapala, he mea ia e luhi ai ke kino.
And by these, my son, be further warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.
13 E hoolohe oe i ka hope o keia mau mea a pau. E makau i ke Akua, a e malama i kona mau kanawai, no ka mea. oia ka ke kanaka [pono] a pau.
When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.
14 No ka mea, e hookomo ana ke Akua i na hana a pau, a me na mea a pau i hunaia iloko o ka hookolokoloia, ina paha he pono, ina paha he hewa.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
