Mosakoli 12
1 Kanisa Mokeli na yo, na mikolo nyonso ya bolenge na yo, liboso ete mikolo ya pasi ekomela yo, mpe mibu epusana, mibu oyo okoloba na tina na yango: « Nazali kosepela na ngai na yango te; »
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 liboso ete moyi mpe pole, sanza mpe minzoto, ekoma molili, mpe mapata ezonga sima na mvula;
before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars become dark, and the clouds return after the rain;
3 tango bakengeli ya ndako bakolenga, mpe bato ya makasi bakofukama; tango basi oyo banikaka ble bakotika konika yango mpo ete bazali lisusu mingi te, mpe bato oyo batalaka na maninisa bakobungisa kitoko na bango;
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 tango bikangelo ya ekuke ekokangama na balabala, mpe makelele ya basi oyo banikaka ble ekosila; tango bato balamukaka na banzembo ya bandeke mpe bayembi ya basi batikaka koyemba;
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 tango bato bakomaka kobanga komata likolo, mpe bakomaka kobanga makama na nzela; tango nzete ya pome ebimisaka mbuma, tango mabanki ekomaka kilo, mpe baposa ekokisamaka lisusu te; pamba te moto akendaka na ndako ya libela, mpe basi oyo balelaka na bibembe basanganaka na balabala.
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 Solo, kanisa Mokeli na yo liboso ete singa ya palata ekatana, kopo ya wolo efinana, eloko ya mayi ebukana na libulu ya mayi, mpe mashini oyo babendelaka mayi na libulu ebukana;
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 liboso ete putulu ezonga na mabele epai wapi ewutaki, mpe pema ezonga epai ya Nzambe oyo apesaki yango.
and the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit return to God who gave it.
8 Pamba na pamba, elobi mosakoli, makambo nyonso ezali kaka pamba.
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity!
9 Mosakoli azalaki kaka moto ya bwanya te, kasi azalaki mpe koyekolisa bato boyebi; akanisaki mingi, alukaki mingi mpe atiaki na molongo masese ebele penza.
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 Mosakoli asalaki makasi mpo na koluka koyeba maloba ya elengi mpe kokoma na bosembo makambo ya solo.
The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and to write correctly words of truth.
11 Maloba ya bato ya bwanya ezali lokola banzube, mpe buku ya masese na bango ezali lokola basete oyo ekotaka makasi na libaya. Masese yango nyonso ewuti epai ya Mobateli mpate moko.
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 Mwana na ngai, keba ete obakisa eloko moko te na likolo na yango. Suka ezali te mpo na kokoma mikanda ebele, mpe koyekola mingi elembisaka nzoto.
And, moreover, by these, my son, be warned! To the multiplying of books there is no end, and much study wearieth the flesh.
13 Yoka suka ya mateya nyonso: Tosa Nzambe mpe batela mibeko na Ye, pamba te yango nde eleki na tina mpo na moto.
Let us hear the end of the whole discourse! Fear God and keep his commandments! For this is the duty of every man.
14 Pamba te, Nzambe akomema misala nyonso na kosambisama, ezala oyo ebombama, ya malamu to ya mabe.
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.
