Muparidzi 12
1 Rangarira Musiki wako pamazuva ouduku hwako, mazuva okutambudzika asati auya, namakore asati aswedera pauchati, “Handioni zvinofadza maari,”
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 zuva nechiedza uye nomwedzi nenyeredzi zvisati zvadzima, uye makore asati adzoka mushure mokunaya kwemvura;
before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened, and the clouds return after the rain,
3 kana vatariri vemba vodedera, navarume vakasimba vokotama, kana vakuyi vorega nokuti vashoma, uye vaya vanotarira napamawindo voonera madzerere;
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 kana mikova yokunzira ichinge yapfigwa uye maungira okukuya oderera; kana vanhu vomutswa nokuimba kweshiri asi nziyo dzavo dzose dzisisanzwiki zvakanaka;
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 kana vanhu votya nzvimbo dzakakwirira nenjodzi mumigwagwa; kana muamanda wotumbuka nemhashu yozvikwekweredza uye kuda kwose kwapera. Ipapo munhu anoenda kumusha wake usingaperi, uye vanochema vachafamba-famba munzira.
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 Murangarirei, rwodzi rwesirivha rusati rwadambuka; uye mbiya yegoridhe isati yaputswa; chirongo chisati chapwanyika pachitubu, uye vhiri risati raputswa patsime,
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 uye guruva risati radzokera kuvhu kwarakabva, nomweya usati wadzokera kuna Mwari akaupa.
before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8 Muparidzi anoti, “Hazvina maturo! Hazvina maturo! Zvose hazvina maturo!”
“Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile!”
9 Muparidzi akanga asina kuchenjera chete asi akadzidzisawo zivo kuvanhu. Akarangarira akaongorora uye akaronga zvirevo zvizhinji.
Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.
10 Muparidzi akatsvaka kuti awane mashoko akanaka chete, uye zvaakanyora zvakarurama uye ndezvechokwadi.
The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.
11 Mashoko avachenjeri akafanana nezvibayiso, mashoko avo akaunganidzwa akasimbiswa sembambo dzakarovererwa kwazvo, akapiwa noMufudzi mumwe chete.
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 Yambirwa, mwanakomana wangu, kuti pasava nechinhu chipi zvacho chichawedzerwa pazviri. Zvokunyora mabhuku mazhinji hazvina magumo, uye kudzidza zvizhinji kunonetesa muviri.
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 Zvino zvose zvanzwikwa; houno mugumo wenyaya yacho: Itya Mwari uchengete mirayiro yake, nokuti iri ndiro basa rose romunhu.
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 Nokuti Mwari achatonga basa rimwe nerimwe kusanganisira nezvakavanzika zvose, zvakanaka kana zvakaipa.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
