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 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 Tupu anyanwụ na ìhè, ọnwa na kpakpando ga-agba ọchịchịrị, na nlọghachi igwe ojii mgbe mmiri zosiri.
Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are 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,
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 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,
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 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.
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 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.
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 Mgbe ahụ, anụ ahụ anyị ga-alaghachi nʼaja ebe o si pụta; mmụọ anyị ga-alaghachikwuru Chineke onye nyere ya.
and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8 “Ihe efu! Ihe efu!” ka onye ozizi kwuru. “Ihe niile bụ ihe efu!”
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher. All is vanity.
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.
Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
10 Onye ozizi chọpụtara okwu ndị dabanyere nʼusoro, ihe o depụtara bụ ihe ziri ezi na eziokwu.
The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, 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 like nails well fastened are words from the masters of collections, which are given from one 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.
Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
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.
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 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 work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.
