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, thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, of which thou shalt 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, and the light, and the moon, and the stars become dark, 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,
at the time when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that 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,
when the doors are shut in the streets, while the sound of the mill is low; when they rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music are 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.
when also they are afraid of that which is high, and terrors are in the way, and the almond is despised, and the locust is a burden, and the caper-berry is powerless; since man goeth to his eternal 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 be snapped asunder, and the golden bowl be crushed, or the bucket broken at the fountain, or the wheel shattered at the well,
7 Mgbe ahụ, anụ ahụ anyị ga-alaghachi nʼaja ebe o si pụta; mmụọ anyị ga-alaghachikwuru Chineke onye nyere ya.
and the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit return to God who gave it.
8 “Ihe efu! Ihe efu!” ka onye ozizi kwuru. “Ihe niile bụ ihe efu!”
Vanity of vanities, saith 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.
Moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he considered, and 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 to write correctly 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 as goads; yea, as nails driven in are the words of members of assemblies, given by 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.
And, moreover, by these, my son, be warned! To the multiplying of books there is no end, and much study wearieth 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.
Let us hear the end of the whole discourse! Fear God and keep his commandments! For this is the duty of every 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 the judgment which there is upon every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
