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;
Let your mind be turned to your Maker in the days of your strength, while the evil days come not, and the years are far away when you will say, I have no pleasure in them;
2 utuu aduu fi ifni, jiʼii fi urjiin hin dukkanaaʼin, utuu duumessi bokkaatti aanee hin deebiʼin,
While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, are not dark, and the clouds come not back 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,
In the day when the keepers of the house are shaking for fear, and the strong men are bent down, and the women who were crushing the grain are at rest because their number is small, and those looking out of the windows are unable to see;
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 are shut in the street, and the sound of the crushing is low, and the voice of the bird is soft, and the daughters of music will be made low;
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.
And he is in fear of that which is high, and danger is in the road, and the tree is white with flower, and the least thing is a weight, and desire is at an end, because man goes to his last resting-place, and those who are sorrowing are in 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,
Before ever the silver cord is cut, or the vessel of gold is broken, or the pot is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the water-hole;
7 utuu biyyoon lafa turetti hin deebiʼin, utuu hafuurris Waaqa isa kennetti hin deebiʼin isa yaadadhu.
And the dust goes back to the earth as it was, and the spirit goes back to God who gave it.
8 Lallabaanis, “Wanni hundi faayidaa hin qabu! Faayidaa hin qabu! Wanni hundi faayidaa hin qabu!” jedha.
All things are to no purpose, says the Preacher, all is to no purpose.
9 Lallabaan sun ogeessa qofa utuu hin taʼin beekumsas namaaf ni qooda ture. Inni itti yaadee, qoratee fakkeenya baayʼee tartiibaan kaaʼeera.
And because the Preacher was wise he still gave the people knowledge; searching out, testing, and putting in order a great number of wise sayings.
10 Lallabaan kun jecha sirrii argachuuf jedhee qorate; wanni inni barreesses qajeelaa fi dhugaa dha.
The Preacher made search for words which were pleasing, but his writing was in words upright and true.
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 pointed, and sayings grouped together are like nails fixed with a hammer; they are given by one guide.
12 Yaa ilma ko, waan kana irraa hafe hunda of eeggadhu. Kitaaba hedduu barreessuun hojii dhuma hin qabnee dha; quʼannaan baayʼeenis nama dadhabsiisa.
And further, my son, take note of this: of the making of books there is no end, and much learning is a weariness to the flesh.
13 Amma wanni hundinuu dhagaʼameera; dhumni dubbii kunoo ti; Waaqa sodaadhuutii seera isaa eegi; wanni namni hojjechuu malu guddaan isa kanaatii.
This is the last word. All has been said. Have fear of God and keep his laws; because this is right for every man.
14 Waaqni hojii hunda, waan dhokfame hundas gaarii yookaan hamaa taanaan murtiitti dhiʼeessaatii.
God will be judge of every work, with every secret thing, good or evil.
