1Remember your Creator
in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come
and the years approach when you will say,
“I find no pleasure in them”—
2before the sun and the light
and the moon and the stars grow dark,
and the clouds return after the rain;
3when the keepers of the house tremble,
and the strong men stoop,
when the grinders cease because they are few,
and those looking through the windows grow dim;
4when the doors to the street are closed
and the sound of grinding fades;
when people rise up at the sound of birds,
but all their songs grow faint;
5when people are afraid of heights
and of dangers in the streets;
when the almond tree blossoms
and the grasshopper drags itself along
and desire no longer is stirred.
Then people go to their eternal home
and mourners go about the streets.
6Remember him—before the silver cord is severed,
and the golden bowl is broken;
before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
and the wheel broken at the well,
7and the dust returns to the ground it came from,
and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.12:8 Or the leader of the assembly; also in verses 9 and 10
“Everything is meaningless!”
The Conclusion of the Matter
9Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. 10The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.
11The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd.12:11 Or Shepherd 12Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.
Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.
13Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind.
14For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.
1Rántí Ẹlẹ́dàá rẹ
ní ọjọ́ èwe rẹ,
nígbà tí ọjọ́ ibi kò tí ì dé
àti tí ọdún kò tí ì ní súnmọ́ etílé, nígbà tí ìwọ yóò wí pé,
“Èmi kò ní ìdùnnú nínú wọn”
2Kí oòrùn àti ìmọ́lẹ̀
àti òṣùpá àti àwọn ìràwọ̀ tó ṣókùnkùn,
àti kí àwọsánmọ̀ tó padà lẹ́yìn òjò;
3Nígbà tí olùṣọ́ ilé yóò wárìrì
tí àwọn ọkùnrin alágbára yóò tẹríba,
nígbà tí àwọn tí ó ń lọ dákẹ́ nítorí pé wọn kò pọ̀,
tí àwọn tí ń wo òde láti ojú fèrèsé yóò ṣókùnkùn;
4Nígbà tí ìlẹ̀kùn sí ìgboro yóò tì
tí ariwo ọlọ yóò dákẹ́;
nígbà tí àwọn ènìyàn yóò dìde sí ariwo àwọn ẹyẹ
ṣùgbọ́n gbogbo orin wọn yóò máa lọ ilẹ̀.
5Nígbà tí ènìyàn yóò bẹ̀rù ibi gíga
àti ti ìfarapa ní ìgboro;
nígbà tí igi almondi yóò tanná
àti tí ẹlẹ́ǹgà yóò wọ́ ara rẹ̀ lọ
tí ìfẹ́ kò sì ní ru sókè mọ́
nígbà náà ni ènìyàn yóò lọ ilé rẹ́ ayérayé
tí àwọn aṣọ̀fọ̀ yóò máa rìn kiri ìgboro.
6Rántí rẹ̀ kí okùn fàdákà tó já,
tàbí kí ọpọ́n wúrà tó fọ́;
kí iṣà tó fọ́ níbi ìsun,
tàbí kí àyíká kẹ̀kẹ́ kí ó tó kán níbi kànga.
7Tí erùpẹ̀ yóò sì padà sí ilẹ̀ ibi tí ó ti wà,
tí ẹ̀mí yóò sì padà sọ́dọ̀ Ọlọ́run tí ó fi í fún ni.
8“Asán! Asán!” ni Oniwaasu wí.
“Gbogbo rẹ̀ asán ni!”
Òpin gbogbo ọrọ̀
9Kì í ṣe wí pé Oniwaasu jẹ́ ọlọ́gbọ́n nìkan, ṣùgbọ́n ó tún kọ́ àwọn ènìyàn ní ìmọ̀. Ó rò ó dáradára ó sì ṣe àwárí, ó sì gbé ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ òwe kalẹ̀ lẹ́sẹẹsẹ. 10Oniwaasu wádìí láti rí àwọn ọ̀rọ̀ tí ó tọ̀nà, ohun tí ó kọ sì dúró ṣinṣin ó sì jẹ́ òtítọ́.
11Ọ̀rọ̀ ọlọ́gbọ́n dàbí ẹ̀gún, àkójọpọ̀ ọ̀rọ̀ wọn sì dàbí ìṣó tí a kàn pọ̀ dáradára, tí olùṣọ́-àgùntàn kan fi fún ni. 12Àti síwájú láti inú èyí, Ọmọ mi, gba ìmọ̀ràn.
Nínú ìwé púpọ̀, òpin kò sí, ìwé kíkà púpọ̀ a máa mú ara ṣàárẹ̀.
13Nísinsin yìí,
òpin gbogbo ọ̀rọ̀ tí a gbọ́ ni pé:
Bẹ̀rù Ọlọ́run, kí o sì pa òfin rẹ̀ mọ́,
nítorí èyí ni ojúṣe gbogbo ènìyàn.
14Nítorí Ọlọ́run yóò ṣe ìdájọ́ olúkúlùkù iṣẹ́
àti ohun ìkọ̀kọ̀,
kì bá à ṣe rere kì bá à ṣe búburú.
