Mhubiri 12
1 Pia mkumbuke Muumba wako katika siku za za ujana, kabla ya siku za ugumu hazijaja, na kabla ya miaka haijafika utakapo sema, “Mimi sina furaha katika hizo,”
But remember also thy Creator in the days of thy youthful vigor, while the evil days are not yet come, nor those years draw nigh of which thou wilt say, I have no pleasure in them;
2 fanya hivi kabla ya nuru ya jua na mwezi na nyota havijawa giza, na mawingu kurudi baada ya mvua.
While the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars, are not yet darkened, and the clouds return not again after the rain;
3 Huo utakuwa wakati ambapo mlinzi wa ikulu atatetemeka, na wanaume imara wameinama, na wanawake wanao saga kukoma, kwa sababu ni wachache, na wale wanao chungulia dirishani hawaoni vizuri tena.
On the day when the watchmen of the house will tremble and the men of might will bend themselves, and the grinders stand idle, because they are become few, and those be darkened that look through the windows;
4 Huo utakuwa wakati ambao milango imefungwa katika mtaa, na mlio wa kusanga kukoma, wakati wanaume watasitushwa kwa mlio wa ndege, na wimbo wa sauti ya wasichana kukoma.
And when the two doors on the streets will be locked, while the sound of the mill becometh dull, and man riseth up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low;
5 Utakuwa wakati ambapo watu wataogopa vilivyoinuka na hatari iliyoko barabarani, na wakati ambapo mlozi utachanua maua, na wakati panzi watakapokokotana wenyewe, na wakati ambapo hamu za asili zitakaposhindwa. Kisha mtu aenda katika nyumba yake ya milele na waombolezaji watelemka mitaani.
Also when men will be afraid of every elevation, and are terrified on every way, and the almond-tree will refuse [its blossom], and the locust will drag itself slowly along, and the desire will gainsay compliance; because man goeth to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets;
6 Mkumbuke Muumba wako kabla ya kamba ya fedha kukatwa, au bakuli ya dhahabu kupasuka, au gudulia kuvunjwa kwenye chemuchemi, au torori la maji kuvunjika kisimani,
While the silver cord is not yet torn loose, and the golden bowl is not crushed, and the pitcher is not broken at the fountain, and the wheel is not crushed at the cistern;
7 kabla mavumbi kurudia mahali yalipotoka, na roho kurudi kwa Mungu aliyeitoa.
When the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return unto God who gave it.—
8 Kama ukungu wa mvuke,” asema mwalimu, kila kitu ni mvuke upoteao.
Vanity of vanities, saith Koheleth: all is vanity.—
9 Mwalimu alikuwa na hekima na aliwafundisha watu maarifa. Alisoma na kuazimu na kutunga mithali nyingi katika mpangilio.
And in addition to this that Koheleth was wise, he continually also taught the people knowledge, and he probed, and searched out, and composed many proverbs.
10 Mwalimu alitafuta kuandika kwa kutumia vithibitisho dhahiri, maneno ya kweli yaliyo wima.
Koheleth sought to find out acceptable words, and that which would be written down uprightly, even words of truth.
11 Maneno ya watu wenye hekima ni kama mchokoo. Kama misumari ilivyogongomewa kwa undani, ndivyo yalivyo maneno ya mabwana katika mkusanyiko wa mithali zao, ambayo yamefundishwa na mchungaji mmoja.
The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails fastened [are the words of] the men of the assemblies, which are given by one shepherd.
12 Mwanangu kuwa makini na kitu zaidi, utengezaji wa vitabu vingi, ambacho hakina mwisho, na kusoma kwingi huleta uchovu mwilini.
But more than all these, my son, take warning for thyself: the making of many books would have no end; and much preaching is a weariness of the flesh.
13 Mwisho wa jambo baada ya kila kitu umesikika, ni kwamba ni lazima umche Mungu na kushika amri zake, kwa kuwa huu ndilo jukumu lote la mwanadamu.
The end of the matter is, let us hear the whole: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole [duty of] man.
14 Kwa kuwa Mungu ataleta kila tendo hukumuni, pamoja na kila kitu kilichofichika, kizuri au kibaya.
For every deed will God bring into the judgment concerning every thing that hath been hidden, whether it be good, or whether it be bad.
