1 Keep your Creator in mind while you are young! In years to come, you will be burdened down with troubles and say, “I don't enjoy life anymore.”
2 Someday the light of the sun
and the moon and the stars
will all seem dim to you.
Rain clouds will remain
over your head.
3 Your body will grow feeble,
your teeth will decay,
and your eyesight fail.
4 The noisy grinding of grain
and the voices of singers
will be shut out
by your deaf ears,
but even the song of a bird
will keep you awake.
5 You will be afraid
to climb up a hill
or walk down a road.
Your hair will turn as white
as almond blossoms.
You will feel lifeless
and drag along
like an old grasshopper.
We each go to our eternal home,
and the streets here are filled
with those who mourn.
6 The silver cord snaps,
the golden bowl breaks;
the water pitcher is smashed,
and the pulley at the well
is shattered.
7 So our bodies return
to the earth,
and the life-giving breath
returns to God.
8 Nothing makes sense.
I have seen it all—
nothing makes sense.
Respect and Obey God
9 I was a wise teacher with much understanding, and I collected a number of proverbs that I had carefully studied. 10 Then I tried to explain these things in the best and most accurate way.
11 Words of wisdom are like the stick a farmer uses to make animals move. These sayings come from a shepherd, and they are like nails that fasten things together. 12 My child, I warn you to stay away from any teachings except these.
There is no end to books,
and too much study
will wear you out.
13 Everything you were taught can be put into a few words:
Respect and obey God!
This is what life
is all about.
14 God will judge
everything we do,
even what is done in secret,
whether good or bad.
Dimbulukwa Omushiti woye mounyasha woye
1 Ndele dimbulukwa Omushiti woye momafiku ounyasha woye, fimbo omafiku mai inae uya, nomido tadi uya, odo ove to di popi, to ti: “Odo inadi wapalela nge.” 2 Fimbo etango nouyelele nohani, neenyofi inadi laula noilemo eshi tai aluka konima yodula, 3 fimbo efiku tuu olo inali uya, ovanangeli vongulu tava kakama, novalumenhu ve neenghono tava ende omwoodimba, novatwi va efa okutwa, shaashi va ninga vanini, naava hava talele momakende, ove li momulaulu, 4 fimbo oivelo ya ama kepandavanda tai ka idilwa po, fimbo omifindo domoshini tadi ninipala. Ndele ye ta penduka, oudila eshi tava hovele okukwena neendaka adishe deimbilo da mwena. 5 Ye ota ka kala e noumbada molwoikulundudu noitilifa i li mondjila. Nomuti waamandel tau piti eenhemo, noshipaxu tashi lishilile komesho noudjuu, oshimbodi shakapper itashi pendula vali ouhalu. Osheshi omunhu ta i keumbo laye laalushe, noonakulila eefya tava endaenda momapandavanda, 6 fimbo ongodi yoshisiliveli inai tokoka noshiyuma shoshingoldo inashi tatuka, noshitoo shopofifiya inashi tatuka noluvalakuulu la tekauka ndele la wila mo mondungu, 7 fimbo ondwi inai shuna medu ngaashi ya li ko, nomhepo inai shuna kuKalunga, ou e i mu pele. 8 Aishe oyongaho, Omuudifi ta ti, aishe oyongahoelela.
Tila Kalunga u diinine oipango yaye
9 Ndele ponho younongo Omuudifi, ye okwa longa ovanhu okushiiva, nokwa diladila ndele a konakona nokwa tunga omayeletumbulo mahapu. 10 Omuudifi okwa hetekela okumona eendjovo da wapala, da shangwa da yuka, eendjovo doshili. 11 Eendjovo dovalumenhu ovanamayele odi li ngaashi oivela neendjovo da ongelwa odi li ngaashi eembosha da dengelwa mokule, adishe da yandjwa kOmufita umwe auke. 12 Natango: “Omumwange, kala oupafi. Okushanga omikanda dihapu kaku nexulilo; nokulipyakidila unene mokulesha otaku lolokifa olutu.”
13 Efina loinima aishe twe i uda oleli: Tila Kalunga u diinine oipango yaye. Osheshi omunhu keshe osho e nokuninga. 14 Osheshi Kalunga ota alula keshe oshilonga ketokolo, olo tali uya kombada yoinima aishe ya holekwa, iwa naii.
