Omubuulizi 12
1 Jjukiranga omutonzi wo mu nnaku ez’obuvubuka bwo, ng’ennaku embi tezinnakutuukako n’emyaka nga teginnasembera, mw’olyogerera nti, “Sizisanyukira”;
And remember 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 ng’enjuba n’obutangaavu, omwezi n’emmunyeenye nga tebinnafuuka kizikiza; nga n’ebire biweddemu enkuba;
before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars, be darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;
3 abakuumi b’enju mwe balikankanira, n’abasajja ab’amaanyi mwe bakutamizibwa, nga n’abo abasa baleseeyo okusa, kubanga batono, n’abo abalingiza mu butuli nga tebakyalaba;
in the day 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 nga n’enzigi ez’olekedde enguudo zigaddwawo, n’eddoboozi ly’okusa nga livumbedde; ng’abasajja bagolokoka olw’eddoboozi ly’ennyonyi, naye nga ennyimba zaabwe zivumbedde;
and the doors are shut toward the street; when the sound of the grinding is subdued, and they rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low;
5 nga batya buli kiwanvu n’akabi akali mu nguudo, ng’omubira gumulisizza, ng’enseenene yeewalula era nga tewakyali alimu keetaaga kino oba kiri. Omuntu n’agenda mu nnyumba ye gy’alimala ekiseera ekiwanvu n’abakungubazi ne babuna enguudo.
they are also afraid of what is high, and terrors are in the way, and the almond is despised, and the grasshopper is a burden, and the caper-berry is without effect; (for man goeth to his age-long home, and the mourners go about the streets; )
6 Jjukira omutonzi wo ng’omuguwa gwa ffeeza tegunnakutuka oba ebbakuli eya zaabu nga tennayatika, ng’ensuwa tennayatikira ku luzzi obanga ne nnamuziga tennamenyekera ku luzzi,
— before the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be shattered at the fountain, or the wheel be broken at the cistern;
7 ng’enfuufu edda mu ttaka mwe yava, n’omwoyo ne gudda eri Katonda eyaguwa omuntu.
and the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit return unto God who gave it.
8 Obutaliimu! Obutaliimu! Omubuulizi bw’agamba, “Buli kintu butaliimu.”
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher: all is vanity.
9 Omubuulizi teyali mugezi kyokka, wabula yayigiriza n’abantu eby’amagezi. Yalowooza n’anoonyereza n’ayiiyaayo engero nnyingi.
And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, and sought out, [and] set in order many proverbs.
10 Omubuulizi yanoonyereza n’afuna ebigambo ebituufu byennyini, ne bye yawandiika byali byesimbu era nga bya mazima.
The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words; and that which was written is upright, words of truth.
11 Ebigambo by’abantu abagezi biri ng’emiwunda, engero zino ezakuŋŋaanyizibwa omusumba omu ziri ng’emisumaali egyakomererwa ne ginywezebwa ennyo.
The words of the wise are as goads, and the collections [of them] as nails fastened in: they are given from one shepherd.
12 Mwana wange weekuume ekintu kyonna ekyongerwako. Okuwandiika ebitabo ebingi tekukoma, n’okuyiga okungi kukooya omubiri.
And besides, my son, be warned by them: of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
13 Kale byonna biwuliddwa; eno y’enkomerero yaabyo: Tyanga Katonda okwatenga amateeka ge, kubanga ekyo omuntu ky’agwanira okukola.
Let us hear the end of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole of man.
14 Kubanga Katonda alisala omusango olwa buli kikolwa; ekyo ekyakwekebwa, nga kirungi oba nga kibi.
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil.
