1 Zemburuka Omuute woye momayuva woumutanda woye, omayuva nozombura ozombi ngunda aze hiye ya, inḓa nḓu motja kaze nokutjata ku ami, 2 neyuva nondjerera, nomueze nozonyose ngunda avi hiya zorera, novikamba vyombura ngunda avi hiya za ko. 3 Meyuva ndo omaoko woye nge ku yama maye zezera, nomarama woye nge nomasa nambano maye ngundipara; omayo woye maye rika tjinene nga tji ye hi nokusora okuṱaṱuna ovikurya vyoye, nomeho woye maye rire omaṱumbe tjinene nga tji ye hi nokusora okumuna nawa. 4 Omatwi woye maye woropara nga tji ye hi nokuzuva orurokoho momuvanda; ove komoo yenene okuzuva ombako tji mai kweye poo ovihumba tji mavi nyanda, nangarire okuimbura kwonḓera maku ku pendura mozomboṱu. 5 Ove mo tira okuronda kotuveze twokombanda, nomakawondjero woye maye rire oumba kove. Ozondjise zoye maze rire ozombapa, ove komoo yenene okurinana omuini komurungu, nozonḓero azehe nḓu u na zo maze yanda.
Eṱe matu i komaturiro wetu omasenina worusuvo, nu tjazumba ape kara omaririro momivanda. 6 Ouketanga ousilveri mau poka, nemunine engoldo mari u nari teka; ongoze ndji nana omeva mondjombo mai poka, notjitjuma tjomeva atji nyanyauka. 7 Otutu twetu matu yaruka koruuma rwehi, nomasuvaneno womuinyo maye yaruka ku Ndjambi ngwe tu pa wo.
8 Avihe mbi omungandjo, omungandjo, Omuzuvarise ma tja nai, avihe mbi ovyo omungandjo uriri.
Omakutiro womambo aehe
9 Posi yokurira onongo, Omuzuvarise wina wa honga ondjiviro ye kovandu ame ripura nama konḓonona nama weza ko omiano omingi. 10 Omuzuvarise wa kondja okumuna omambo omananyuṋe, nokutjanga osemba omambo wouatjiri. 11 Omambo wozonongo ye ri otja ovitwere notja ozomboha nda tonwa okuhita oukoto; Owo ya yandjwa i Ndjambi, ingwi Omurise wetu atuhe.
12 Nu posi yaimbi, muatje wandje, me ku rongo nai: Okutjanga omambo omengi kaku nomaandero, nokurihonga okuingi ku urisa orutu.
13 Otjiṋa otjinanḓengu pu avihe mbya zuvaka, otjo hi: Kara nondira ku Ndjambi, nu u ṱakamise omatwako we; orondu ihi otjiṋa tji tji sokutjitwa i omundu auhe. 14 Ndjambi ma isana oviṋa avihe kombanguriro, nangarire imbi avihe mbya undikwa, kutja oviwa poo kutja ovivi.
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.
