Mhubiri 11
1 Tupa mkate wako juu ya maji, kwa maana baada ya siku nyingi utaupata tena.
Cast thy bread-corn, upon the face of the waters, —for, after many days, shalt thou find it:
2 Wape sehemu watu saba, naam hata wanane, kwa maana hujui ni baa gani litakalokuwa juu ya nchi.
Give a portion to seven, yea even to eight, —for thou canst not know, what there shall be of misfortune, upon the earth.
3 Kama mawingu yamejaa maji, hunyesha mvua juu ya nchi. Kama mti ukianguka kuelekea kusini au kuelekea kaskazini, mahali ulipoangukia, hapo ndipo utakapolala.
If the clouds be filled with a downpour, upon the earth, will they empty themselves, and, if a tree fall in the south or in the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there will it be found.
4 Yeyote atazamaye upepo hatapanda, yeyote aangaliaye mawingu hatavuna.
He that observeth the wind, will not sow, —and, he that watcheth the clouds, will not reap.
5 Kama vile usivyofahamu njia ya upepo, au jinsi mwili uumbwavyo ndani ya tumbo la mama, vivyo hivyo huwezi kufahamu kazi ya Mungu, Muumba wa vitu vyote.
Just as thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, when the body is in the womb of her that is with child, even, so, canst thou not know the work of God, who maketh all.
6 Panda mbegu yako asubuhi, nako jioni usiruhusu mikono yako ilegee, kwa maana hujui ni ipi itakayofanikiwa, kwamba ni hii au ni ile, au kwamba zote zitafanikiwa sawasawa.
In the morning, sow thy seed, and, until evening, do not withhold thy hand, —for thou knowest not—whether shall thrive, either this or that, or whether, both alike, shall be fruitful.
7 Nuru ni tamu, tena inafurahisha macho kuona jua.
Truly sweet is the light, —and, pleasant to the eyes, to see the sun:
8 Hata kama mtu ataishi miaka mingi kiasi gani, na aifurahie yote. Lakini na akumbuke siku za giza, kwa maana zitakuwa nyingi. Kila kitu kitakachokuja ni ubatili.
But, though, many years, a man live, through them all, let him rejoice; yet let him remember the days of darkness, for many they may be, all that cometh, may be vanity.
9 Furahi ewe kijana, wakati ungali kijana, moyo wako na ukupe furaha katika siku za ujana wako. Fuata njia za moyo wako na chochote macho yako yaonayo, lakini ujue kwamba kwa ajili ya haya yote Mungu atakuleta hukumuni.
Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart gladden thee in the days of thine early manhood, and walk thou—in the ways of thine own heart, and in that which is seen by thine own eyes, —yet know, that, for all these things, will God bring thee into judgment.
10 Kwa hiyo basi, ondoa wasiwasi moyoni mwako na utupilie mbali masumbufu ya mwili wako, kwa kuwa ujana na nguvu ni ubatili.
Therefore remove thou vexation from thy heart, and put away discomfort from thy flesh, —for, youth and dawn, are vanity!
