Omubuulizi 12
1 Jjukiranga omutonzi wo mu nnaku ez’obuvubuka bwo, ng’ennaku embi tezinnakutuukako n’emyaka nga teginnasembera, mw’olyogerera nti, “Sizisanyukira”;
Remember then thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, when 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, are 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 shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out shall be darkened in the windows,
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 shall be shut in the street, when the sound of the grinding is low; and one shall start up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music shall be 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.
Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and terrors shall be in the way; and the almond-tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall drag itself along, and the caperberry shall fail; because man goeth to his 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 is snapped asunder, and the golden bowl is shattered, and the pitcher is broken at the fountain, and the wheel falleth shattered, into the pit;
7 ng’enfuufu edda mu ttaka mwe yava, n’omwoyo ne gudda eri Katonda eyaguwa omuntu.
And the dust returneth to the earth as it was, and the spirit returneth unto God who gave it.
8 Obutaliimu! Obutaliimu! Omubuulizi bw’agamba, “Buli kintu butaliimu.”
Vanity of vanities, saith Koheleth; all is vanity.
9 Omubuulizi teyali mugezi kyokka, wabula yayigiriza n’abantu eby’amagezi. Yalowooza n’anoonyereza n’ayiiyaayo engero nnyingi.
And besides that Koheleth was wise, he also taught the people knowledge; yea, 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.
Koheleth sought to find out words of delight, and that which was written uprightly, even 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 as nails well fastened are those that are composed in collections; they are given from one shepherd.
12 Mwana wange weekuume ekintu kyonna ekyongerwako. Okuwandiika ebitabo ebingi tekukoma, n’okuyiga okungi kukooya omubiri.
And furthermore, my son, be admonished: 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.
The end of the matter, all having been heard: fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is the whole man.
14 Kubanga Katonda alisala omusango olwa buli kikolwa; ekyo ekyakwekebwa, nga kirungi oba nga kibi.
For God shall bring every work into the judgment concerning every hidden thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil.
