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;
And remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the days of evil come, and the years overtake [thee] in which thou shalt 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 and light are not darkened, nor the moon and the stars; nor 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,
in the day wherein the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the mighty men shall become bent, and the grinding [women] cease because they have become few, and the [women] looking out at the windows be dark;
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,
and they shall shut the doors in the market-place, because of the weakness of the voice of her that grinds [at the mill]; and he shall rise up at the voice of the sparrow, and all the daughters of song shall be brought 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 they shall look up, and fears [shall be] in the way, and the almond tree shall blossom, and the locust shall increase, and the caper shall be scattered: because man has gone to his eternal home, and the mourners have gone about the market:
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 the silver cord be [let go], or the choice gold be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel run down to the cistern;
7 utuu biyyoon lafa turetti hin deebiʼin, utuu hafuurris Waaqa isa kennetti hin deebiʼin isa yaadadhu.
[before] the dust also return to the earth as it was, and the spirit return to God who gave it.
8 Lallabaanis, “Wanni hundi faayidaa hin qabu! Faayidaa hin qabu! Wanni hundi faayidaa hin qabu!” jedha.
Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher; all is vanity.
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 above [others, so it was] that he taught man excellent knowledge, and the ear will trace out the parables.
10 Lallabaan kun jecha sirrii argachuuf jedhee qorate; wanni inni barreesses qajeelaa fi dhugaa dha.
The Preacher sought diligently to find out acceptable words, and a correct writing, [even] 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 as goads, and as nails firmly fastened, which have been given from one shepherd by agreement.
12 Yaa ilma ko, waan kana irraa hafe hunda of eeggadhu. Kitaaba hedduu barreessuun hojii dhuma hin qabnee dha; quʼannaan baayʼeenis nama dadhabsiisa.
And moreover, my son, guard thyself by means of them: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
13 Amma wanni hundinuu dhagaʼameera; dhumni dubbii kunoo ti; Waaqa sodaadhuutii seera isaa eegi; wanni namni hojjechuu malu guddaan isa kanaatii.
Hear the end of the matter, the sun: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole man.
14 Waaqni hojii hunda, waan dhokfame hundas gaarii yookaan hamaa taanaan murtiitti dhiʼeessaatii.
For God will bring every work into judgment, with everything that has been overlooked, whether [it be] good, or whether [it be] evil.
