Mpitoriteny 12
1 Ary tsarovy ny Mpanao anao amin’ ny andro fahatanoranao, dieny tsy mbola tonga ny andro mahory, ary tsy mbola mihatra ny taona izay hanaovanao hoe; Tsy sitrako izao;
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 dieny tsy mbola maizina ny masoandro sy ny fahazavana sy ny volana sy ny kintana, ary tsy mbola mitambatra indray ny rahona, rehefa latsaka ny ranonorana;
before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars become dark, and the clouds return after the rain;
3 fa amin’ izay dia hangovitra ny mpiandry trano, ary hanjoko ny lehilahy matanjaka, ary hitsahatra ny ankizivavy mpitoto, satria efa vitsy ireo, ary ho maizina ny vehivavy mitsirika eo am-baravarankely,
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 ary hirindrina ny varavarana kopa-droa mankeny an-dalambe, rehefa malemy ny feon’ ny fikosoham-bary; ary ho taitra ny olona, raha vao maneno ny voronkely, ary halemy feo ny zazavavy mpihira rehetra;
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 ary koa, hatahotra ny fiakarana izy, ary toa hisy zava-mahatahotra eny an-dalana; ary hamony ny hazo amygdala, ary ny valala aza ho tonga mavesatra, ary ny voan-tsimperifery aza tsy hanan-kery intsony fa mandroso ho any amin’ ny tranony mandrakizay ny olona, ary ny mpisaona mandehandeha eny an-dalambe
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 dieny tsy mbola mivaha ny kofehy volafotsy, ary tsy mbola vaky ny vilia volamena fitoeran-diloilo, ary tsy mbola rava ny barika eo an-doharano, ary tsy mbola tapaka ny kodia eo an-davaka famorian-drano,
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 ka ny vovoka dia hiverina amin’ ny tany ho toy ny teo, fa ny fanahy kosa hiverina amin’ Andriamanitra, Izay nanome iny.
and the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit return to God who gave it.
8 Zava-poana dia zava-poana, hoy Mpitoriteny, eny, zava-poana ny zavatra rehetra!
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity!
9 Ary koa, satria hendry Mpitoriteny, dia nampianatra ny olona fahalalana izy; eny, nandinika sy nieritreritra ary nandahatra ohabolana maro izy.
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 Mpitoriteny nitady hahita teny mahafinaritra; ary izay mahitsy no voasorany, dia tenin’ ny fahamarinana.
The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and to write correctly words of truth.
11 Ny tenin’ ny hendry dia toy ny fanindronan-omby sy toy ny hombo voatsatoka, ry mpanangona, omen’ ny mpiandry iray izy;
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 ary he koa, anaka! minoa anatra ianao; fa tsy misy farany ny manao boky maro, ary manasatra ny tena ny fianarana be.
And, moreover, by these, my son, be warned! To the multiplying of books there is no end, and much study wearieth the flesh.
13 Ary rehefa re izany rehetra izany, dia izao no faran’ ny teny: Andriamanitra no atahory, ary ny didiny no tandremo, fa izany no tokony hataon’ ny olona rehetra.
Let us hear the end of the whole discourse! Fear God and keep his commandments! For this is the duty of every man.
14 Fa ny atao rehetra dia ho entin’ Andriamanitra ho amin’ ny fitsarana ny zava-miafina rehetra, na soa na ratsy.
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.
