Ɔsɛnkafoɔ 12

1 Kae wo Bɔfoɔ wɔ wo mmeranteberɛ mu, ansa na nnabɔne no aba na mfeɛ a wobɛka sɛ, “Menni mu anigyeɛ biara” no reba,

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

2 ansa na owia ne hann, ɔsrane ne nsoromma aduru sum, na omununkum asane aba osutɔ akyi.

While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, are not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:

3 Ɛberɛ a efie no awɛmfoɔ ho popo, na mmarima ahoɔdenfoɔ akom, ɛberɛ a ayamfoɔ agyae adwumayɛ, sɛ wɔsua enti na wɔn a wɔhwɛ mpoma mu no ani so ayɛ kusuu;

In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows shall be darkened,

4 ɛberɛ a wɔatoto abɔntene no apono mu na ayammeeɛ nnyegyeeɛ ano abrɛ ase; ɛberɛ a nnipa te nnomaa su na wɔanyane, nanso wɔn nnwontoɔ ano brɛ ase;

And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding shall be low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low.

5 ɛberɛ a nnipa suro ɛsoro kɔ ne mmɔntene so amanenyasɛm; ɛberɛ a sorɔno dua bɛgu nhyerɛnne na abɛbɛ wea korɔ na nkatedeɛ ho adwodwoɔ. Afei onipa kɔ ne daa homeɛ mu na agyaadwotwafoɔ tu gu mmɔntene so.

Also [when] they shall be afraid of [that which is] high, and fears [shall be] in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:

6 Kae no, ansa na dwetɛ ahoma no ate, anaasɛ sikakɔkɔɔ ayowaa no abɔ; ansa na sukuruwa no abobɔ wɔ asutene ho, anaasɛ asubura so nkyimiiɛ abubu,

Or ever the silver cord shall be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.

7 na dɔteɛ sane kɔ asase a ɛfiri mu baeɛ, na honhom no tu kɔ Onyankopɔn a ɔde maeɛ no nkyɛn.

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return to God who gave it.

8 “Ahuhudeɛ mu ahuhudeɛ” ɔsɛnkafoɔ no na ɔseɛ. “Biribiara yɛ ahuhudeɛ!”

Vanity of vanities saith the preacher; all [is] vanity.

9 Ɔsɛnkafoɔ no yɛ onyansafoɔ na ɔde nimdeɛ maa nnipa nso. Ɔdweneeɛ na ɔyɛɛ nhwehwɛmu na ɔbubuu mmɛ bebree.

And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge: yes, he gave good heed, and sought out, [and] set in order many proverbs.

10 Ɔsɛnkafoɔ no hwehwɛɛ sɛ ɔbɛnya nsɛm a ɛfata, na deɛ ɔtwerɛeɛ no yɛ pɛ na ɛyɛ nokorɛ nso.

The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and [that which was] written [was] upright, [even] words of truth.

11 Anyansafoɔ nsɛm te sɛ anantwikafoɔ mpea. Wɔn nsɛm a wɔaboa ano te sɛ nnadewa a wɔde abobɔ dua mu ma akɔ mu yie. Saa nsɛm yi nyinaa firi Odwanhwɛfoɔ baako nkyɛn.

The words of the wise [are] as goads, and as nails fastened [by] the masters of assemblies, [which] are given from one shepherd.

12 Mebɔ wo kɔkɔ sɛ twe wo ho firi biribiara a ɛka yeinom ho, me babarima. Nwoma bebrebe atwerɛ nni awieeɛ, na ne sua pii no ma honam yɛ mmerɛ.

And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books [there is] no end; and much study [is] a weariness of the flesh.

13 Afei ne nyinaa atɔ asom; nsɛm no awieeɛ nie: Suro Onyankopɔn na di nʼahyɛdeɛ so, na onipa asɛdeɛ nyinaa nie.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man.

14 Onyankopɔn bɛbu adeyɛ biara atɛn, deɛ wɔayɛ asie nso ka ho, sɛ ɛyɛ papa anaa bɔne.

For God will bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether [it is] good, or whether [it is] evil.