1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
2 ¶ It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. 5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. 6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
7 ¶ Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart. 8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. 10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
11 ¶ Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun. 12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it. 13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? 14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him. 15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness. 16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? 17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? 18 It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all. 19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. 20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. 21 Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: 22 For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
23 ¶ All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me. 24 That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out? 25 I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things , and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness: 26 And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her. 27 Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account: 28 Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found. 29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
Kombinga yokukala kwomuntu
1 Edhina lya simana oli vule omugwayo gwa nika nawa, nesiku lyokusa oli vule esiku lyokuvalwa.
2 Okuya koshigumbo taku lilwa oosa oku vule okuya kegumbo li na oontselela, oshoka eso olyo ehulilo lyaantu ayehe, nomunamwenyo ote shi dhiladhila momutima gwe.
3 Okunika uupongo oku vule okuyola, oshoka oshipala ngele shi na oshizimbi, nena omwenyo ogu li nawa.
4 Omutima gwaanandunge otagu kala moshigumbo shoosa, manga omutima gwaagoya gu li megumbo lyenyanyu.
5 Okupulakena egando lyomunandunge oku vule okupulakena eimbilo lyomagoya.
6 Oshoka iikwekwela yaagoya oya fa omityotyomo dhomano taga pi kohi yombiga. Shika owaleelela.
7 Okwiihakanena iimaliwa otaku goyapaleke omunandunge, noombumbo otadhi nyateke omutima.
8 Ehulilo lyoshinima oli vule etameko lyasho.
Omutalanteni oku vule omwiinenepeki.
9 Ino uluma okugeya mombepo yoye, oshoka ondjahi ohayi kala meni lyegoya.
10 Ino tya: “Omasiku gonale oshike ga li omawanawa ge vule gongashingeyi?” Oshoka ito shi popi moondunge.
11 Owino ombwanawa ya fa uuthiga, oyo ekwatho lyaamboka ye na omwenyo. 12 Oshoka owino oyo egameno, ngaashi iimaliwa oyo egameno, ihe ekwatho lyuunongo olyo ndika — owino otayi gamene omwenyo gwamwene gwayo.
13 Tala iilonga yaKalunga, oshoka olye ta vulu okuutha shoka a shita sha goyoka?
14 Nyanyukwa esiku ewanawa, nomesiku lyiiponga dhimbulukwa kutya Kalunga okwe li shiti ngaashika ndiyaka; omuntu ke shi shi shoka tashi mu adha konakuyiwa.
15 Ayihe onde yi mono momasiku gandje gowala: oku na aayuuki mboka taa sile muuyuuki wawo noku na aakaanakalunga mboka taa kalele uukeenakalunga wawo olule. 16 Ino ninga omuyuuki unene ngoye ino imonitha omunawino wa tsa pombanda — omolwashike wa hala okuhula po? 17 Ino ninga omukeenakalunga unene noino ninga egoya — omolwashike to si po mbala esiku inaali thika? 18 Osho opala okudhiginina shimwe nokwaagamuka ko koshikwawo, oshoka ngoka ha tila Kalunga, ota henuka ayihe mbika.
19 Owino otayi koleke omunawino shi vule oofule omulongo ya kala moshilando.
20 Oshoka kombanda yevi kaku na omuyuuki ngoka ta longo uuwanawa auke ye ita yono.
21 Ino pulakena oohapu adhihe aantu taa popi, opo waa uve omupiya gwoye te ku tuku. 22 Oshoka omwenyo gwoye mwene ogwa tseya kutya oho tuku ooyakweni.
23 Ayihe mbika onde yi konakona nowino. Onda popi nda ti: “Onda hala ndi ninge omunawino,” ihe osha kala ndje kokule. 24 Onkalo yowino oyi li kokule nomuule unene, olye ta vulu oku yi pikula? 25 Momwenyo gwandje onda tameke okukonakona nokutedhatedha nokukonga owino, opo ndi tseye kutya uukeenakalunga owo uugoya, nuugoya owo okwaanandunge.
26 Onda mono sha oshilulululu shi vule eso, omukiintu. Oye omwigo, omutima gwe etavu niikaha ye oonkandja. Omwaanawa koshipala shaKalunga ota manguluka miikaha ye, ihe omulunde ote mu kwata po. 27 Eeno, osho shoka nde shi dhimbulula, omuuvithi a ti, sho nda kambadhala okuyeleka oshinima noshikwawo, ndi mone ehuku. 28 Shoka nde shi kongakonga, ihe inandi shi mona, osho shika: Maantu eyuvi onda mono mo omulumentu gumwe omunashili, ihe inandi mona mo omukiintu omunashili nando ogumwe momwaalu tuu ngoka. 29 Tala, onda mono ashike kutya Kalunga okwa shiti aantu aayuuki, ihe yo yene ohayi ikongele iihelele oyindji.
