Lallaba 12
1 Utuu guyyaan rakkinaa hin dhufin, utuu barri ati itti, “Ani itti hin gammadu” jettu hin gaʼin, bara dargaggummaa keetii keessa Uumaa kee yaadadhu;
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of adversity come and the years approach of which you will say, “I find no pleasure in them,”
2 utuu aduu fi ifni, jiʼii fi urjiin hin dukkanaaʼin, utuu duumessi bokkaatti aanee hin deebiʼin,
before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened, and the clouds return after the rain,
3 yeroo itti eegdonni manaa hollatanii namoonni jajjaboon immoo gugguufanitti, yeroo itti warri midhaan daakan sababii muraasa taʼaniif hojii dhiisanii, kanneen foddaa keessaan ilaalan arguu dadhabanitti,
on the day the keepers of the house tremble and the strong men stoop, when those grinding cease because they are few and those watching through windows see dimly,
4 yeroo itti balballi daandii guddaatti geessu cufamee sagaleen dhagaa daakuu immoo gad buʼaa deemutti, yeroo itti namni waca simbirrootiin dammaqee sirbi ishee hundi garuu gad buʼaa deemutti,
when the doors to the street are shut and the sound of the mill fades away, when one rises at the sound of a bird and all the daughters of song grow faint,
5 yeroo itti namni lafa ol dheeraa fi balaa daandii irraa sodaatu, yeroo itti mukni lawuzii daraaru, yeroo itti korophisni tiratuu fi hawwiin nama keessaa badutti Uumaa kee yaadadhu. Ergasii namni mana isaa bara baraatti gala; warri booʼanis daandii irra deddeebiʼu.
when men fear the heights and dangers of the road, when the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper loses its spring, and the caper berry shrivels— for then man goes to his eternal home and mourners walk the streets.
6 Utuu funyoon meetii hin citin, yookaan utuu waciitiin warqee hin cabin isa yaadadhu; utuu okkoteen burqaa biratti hin caccabin, yookaan utuu geengoon ittiin bishaan warraaban boolla bishaanii biratti hin cabin,
Remember Him before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is crushed, before the pitcher is shattered at the spring and the wheel is broken at the well,
7 utuu biyyoon lafa turetti hin deebiʼin, utuu hafuurris Waaqa isa kennetti hin deebiʼin isa yaadadhu.
before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8 Lallabaanis, “Wanni hundi faayidaa hin qabu! Faayidaa hin qabu! Wanni hundi faayidaa hin qabu!” jedha.
“Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile!”
9 Lallabaan sun ogeessa qofa utuu hin taʼin beekumsas namaaf ni qooda ture. Inni itti yaadee, qoratee fakkeenya baayʼee tartiibaan kaaʼeera.
Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.
10 Lallabaan kun jecha sirrii argachuuf jedhee qorate; wanni inni barreesses qajeelaa fi dhugaa dha.
The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.
11 Dubbiin ogeessaa akkuma meeshaa ittiin loon oofanii ti; jechi isaa kan walitti qabames akkuma mismaara jabeeffamee rukutamee ti; kanas tiksee tokkotu kenne.
The words of the wise are like goads, and the anthologies of the masters are like firmly embedded nails driven by a single Shepherd.
12 Yaa ilma ko, waan kana irraa hafe hunda of eeggadhu. Kitaaba hedduu barreessuun hojii dhuma hin qabnee dha; quʼannaan baayʼeenis nama dadhabsiisa.
And by these, my son, be further warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.
13 Amma wanni hundinuu dhagaʼameera; dhumni dubbii kunoo ti; Waaqa sodaadhuutii seera isaa eegi; wanni namni hojjechuu malu guddaan isa kanaatii.
When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.
14 Waaqni hojii hunda, waan dhokfame hundas gaarii yookaan hamaa taanaan murtiitti dhiʼeessaatii.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
