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;
Also call to mind your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of difficulty come, and before the years arrive when you say, “I have no pleasure in them,”
2 utuu aduu fi ifni, jiʼii fi urjiin hin dukkanaaʼin, utuu duumessi bokkaatti aanee hin deebiʼin,
do this before the light of the sun and the moon and the stars grows dark, and dark 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,
That will be the time when the palace guards will tremble, and strong men are bent over, and the women who grind cease because they are few, and those who look out of windows no longer see clearly.
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,
That will be the time when the doors are shut in the street, and the sound of grinding stops, when men are startled at the voice of a bird, and the singing of girls' voices fades away.
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.
That will be the time when men become afraid of heights and of dangers along on the road, and when the almond tree blossoms, and when grasshoppers drag themselves along, and when natural desires fail. Then man goes to his eternal home and the mourners go down 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,
Call to mind your Creator before the silver cord is cut, or the golden bowl is crushed, or the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the water 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 earth where it came from, 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.
“A mist of vapor,” says the Teacher, “everything is vanishing vapor.”
9 Lallabaan sun ogeessa qofa utuu hin taʼin beekumsas namaaf ni qooda ture. Inni itti yaadee, qoratee fakkeenya baayʼee tartiibaan kaaʼeera.
The Teacher was wise and he taught the people knowledge. He studied and contemplated and set in order many proverbs.
10 Lallabaan kun jecha sirrii argachuuf jedhee qorate; wanni inni barreesses qajeelaa fi dhugaa dha.
The Teacher sought to write using vivid, upright 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 wise people are like goads. Like nails driven deeply are the words of the masters in collections of their proverbs, which are taught by one shepherd.
12 Yaa ilma ko, waan kana irraa hafe hunda of eeggadhu. Kitaaba hedduu barreessuun hojii dhuma hin qabnee dha; quʼannaan baayʼeenis nama dadhabsiisa.
My son, be aware of something more: the making of many books, which has no end and much study brings weariness to the body.
13 Amma wanni hundinuu dhagaʼameera; dhumni dubbii kunoo ti; Waaqa sodaadhuutii seera isaa eegi; wanni namni hojjechuu malu guddaan isa kanaatii.
The end of the matter after everything has been heard, is that you must fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of mankind.
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 it is good or evil.
