Ekiliziastis 12
1 Ya mere, cheta Onye kere gị mgbe ị ka bụ okorobịa, tupu ụbọchị ọjọọ ndị ahụ abịa, na mgbe afọ aka abịarubeghị mgbe ị ga-asị, “Ha anaghị atọkwa m ụtọ.”
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 Tupu anyanwụ na ìhè, ọnwa na kpakpando ga-agba ọchịchịrị, na nlọghachi igwe ojii mgbe mmiri zosiri.
before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened, and the clouds return after the rain,
3 Mgbe ndị na-echebe ụlọ ga-ama jijiji, mgbe ndị dimkpa nwoke ga-ehulata, mgbe ndị na-akwọ ihe kwụsịrị maka ha dị ole na ole, mgbe ndị na-elepụ anya site nʼoghere ga-ebido ịgba ọchịchịrị,
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 mgbe e mechiri ọnụ ụzọ nke pụrụ nʼokporoụzọ, mgbe olu ịkwọ nri ga-adị ala, mgbe ụda olu abụ ụmụ nnụnụ ga-akpọte ndị mmadụ, ma abụ ha niile na-ala ala,
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 mgbe ndị mmadụ ga-atụ egwu ebe dị elu; na ihe egwu nke okporoụzọ, mgbe osisi alụmọnd ga-ama ifuru mgbe ụkpana ga na-adọkpụ onwe ya nʼụzọ, agụụ ihe ọbụla ga-akwụsịkwa. Mgbe ahụ, ndị mmadụ ga-ala ụlọ ebighị ebi ya, ndị na-akwa akwa ga na-agagharị nʼokporoụzọ niile.
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 E, cheta ya, tupu e gbubie ụdọ ọlaọcha ahụ, tupu e tiwaa ọkwa ọlaedo, tupu ite adawaa nʼisi iyi, tupu e tijie ụkwụ igwe olulu mmiri.
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 Mgbe ahụ, anụ ahụ anyị ga-alaghachi nʼaja ebe o si pụta; mmụọ anyị ga-alaghachikwuru Chineke onye nyere ya.
before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8 “Ihe efu! Ihe efu!” ka onye ozizi kwuru. “Ihe niile bụ ihe efu!”
“Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile!”
9 Ọ bụghị naanị nʼonye ozizi ahụ bụ onye maara ihe, o jegharịrị na-ezi ndị mmadụ ihe ọ maara. Ọ tụgharịrị uche chọpụta ọtụtụ ilu, detuokwa ha nʼusoro.
Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.
10 Onye ozizi chọpụtara okwu ndị dabanyere nʼusoro, ihe o depụtara bụ ihe ziri ezi na eziokwu.
The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.
11 Okwu ọnụ nke onye maara ihe dị ka ndụdụ e ji achụ ehi. Nchịkọta okwu amamihe ndị a dị ka ǹtu a kumiri nke ọma, nke onye na-azụ atụrụ nyere.
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 Ma nwa m nwoke lezie anya, atụkwasịla ihe ọzọ nʼelu ihe ndị a. Akwụkwọ a na-ede ede enweghị ọgwụgwụ, ọtụtụ mmụta na-agwụ ike.
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 Ugbu a anụla ihe ndị a niile, ma nụrụ ihe bụ nkwubi okwu: Tụọ egwu Chineke, debekwa iwu ya niile, nʼihi na nke a bụ ọrụ niile dịrị mmadụ.
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 Nʼihi na Chineke ga-ekpe ọrụ ọbụla ikpe, ya na ihe nzuzo anyị niile, ma ha dị mma ma ha dị njọ.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
