伝道者の書 12
1 故に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 thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the time of affliction come, and the years draw nigh of which thou shalt say: They please me not:
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, and the light, and the moon, and the stars be 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
When the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall stagger, and the grinders shall be idle in a small number, and they that look through the holes shall be 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 they shall shut the doors in the street, when the grinder’s voice shall be low, and they shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall grow deaf.
5 かかる人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廃る 人永遠の家にいたらんとすれば哭婦衢にゆきかふ
And they shall fear high things, and they shall be afraid in the way, the almond tree shall flourish, the locust shall be made fat, and the caper tree shall be destroyed: because man shall go into the house of his eternity, and the mourners shall go round about in the street.
6 然る時には銀の紐は解け金の盞は砕け吊瓶は泉の側に壊れ轆轤は井の傍に破ん
Before the silver cord be broken, and the golden fillet shrink back, and the pitcher be crushed at the fountain, and the wheel be broken upon 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 return into its earth, from whence it was, and the spirit return 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, said Ecclesiastes, and all things are vanity.
9 また傅道者は智慧あるが故に恒に知識を民に教へたり 彼は心をもちひて尋ね究め許多の箴言を作れり
And whereas Ecclesiastes was very wise, he taught the people, and declared the things that he had done: and seeking out, he set forth many parables.
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
He sought profitable words, and wrote words most right, and full 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 as goads, and as nails deeply fastened in, which by the counsel of masters 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 多く学べば體疲る
More than these, my son, require not. Of making many books there is no end: and much study is an affliction of the flesh.
13 事の全體の皈する所を聴べし 云く 神を畏れその誡命を守れ 是は諸の人の本分たり 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
Let us all hear together the conclusion of the discourse. Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is all man:
And all things that are done, God will bring into judgment for every error, whether it be good or evil.
