< 伝道者の書 12 >

1 汝の少き日に汝の造主を記えよ 即ち惡き日の來り年のよりて我は早何も樂むところ無しと言にいたらざる先
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 また日や光明や月や星の暗くならざる先 雨の後に雲の返らざる中に汝然せよ
Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;
3 その日いたる時は家を守る者は慄ひ 力ある人は屈み 磨碎者は寡きによりて息み 窓より窺ふ者は目昏むなり
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 磨こなす聲低くなれば衢の門は閉づ その人は鳥の聲に起あがり 歌の女子はみな身を卑くす
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 かかる人々は高き者を恐る畏しき者多く途にあり 巴旦杏は花咲くまた蝗もその身に重くその嗜欲は廢る 人永遠の家にいたらんとすれば哭婦衢にゆきかふ
yes, they shall be afraid of heights, and terrors will be on the way; and the almond tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goes to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets;
6 然る時には銀の紐は解け金の盞は碎け吊瓶は泉の側に壞れ轆轤は井の傍に破ん
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 而して塵は本の如くに土に皈り 霊魂はこれを賦けし神にかへるべし
and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8 傳道者云ふ空の空なるかな皆空なり
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All is vanity!”
9 また傳道者は智慧あるが故に恒に知識を民に敎へたり 彼は心をもちひて尋ね究め許多の箴言を作れり
Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
10 傳道者は務めて佳美き言詞を求めたり その書しるしたる者は正直して眞實の言語なり
The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth.
11 智者の言語は刺鞭のごとく 會衆の師の釘たる釘のごとくにして 一人の牧者より出し者なり
The words of the wise are like goads; and like nails well fastened are words from the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
12 わが子よ是等より訓誡をうけよ 多く書をつくれば竟なし 多く學べば體疲る
Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
13 事の全體の皈する所を聽べし 云く 神を畏れその誡命を守れ 是は諸の人の本分たり
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 神は一切の行爲ならびに一切の隠れたる事を善惡ともに審判たまふなり
For God will bring every work into judgement, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.

< 伝道者の書 12 >