1 Dhimbulukwa Omushiti gwoye momasiku guugundjuka woye, manga omasiku guudhigu inaage ya nomimvo inaadhi hedha ko, uuna to ka popya to ti: “Inandi dhi hokwa.” 2 Momasiku ngoka etango, omutenya, omwedhi noonyothi otadhi ka kala dha luudha, niikogo ohayi galuka konima yomvula. 3 Omasiku ngoka aalangeli yegumbo taa ka kakama, aalumentu aanankondo taa andalalithwa, aatsi taa zimbuka, oshoka oya ninga po aashona, naamboka taye entamene momakende taa kala momilema. 4 Omasiku ngoka omiyelo dha taalela omapandaanda, otadhi ka kala dhe edhilwa po, omuthindo gwokoshini ogwa shonopala, omuntu ota penduka po, ngele uudhila opo tau tameke okulila, nomawi agehe oga gogoma. 5 Omuntu ota kala a tila momitunda, nomondjila omu na iihaluthi. Omuti omumandeli tagu tsapuka oonsheno, oshipethipethi tashi ende tashi gaganyata, noonkuto dhoshihwa shokaperi itadhi eta we uuhalu wokulya.
Omuntu ota yi kegumbo lye lyaaluhe, naalilasa taye endaenda momapandaanda. 6 Ongodhi yoshisiliveli otayi tokoka, noshiyuma shoshingoli otashi tatuka. Oshiyuma shomeya otashi tatukile pomuthima, noshikweyitho otashi gwile monyombo. 7 Ontsi otayi shuna mevi, ngaashika ya li nale, nombepo otayi galukile kuKalunga, ngoka e yi gandjele.
8 Ayihe oyowala, omuuvithi ota ti, ayihe oyowalawala, owaleelela.
Engongo
9 Omuuvithi ka li ashike omunawino, okwa longo wo aantu uunongo, okwa dhiladhila e ta konakona, okwa tungu omayeletumbulo ogendji. 10 Omuuvithi okwa kongo a mone oohapu dho opala nodha nyolwa dhu uka, oohapu dhoshili. 11 Oohapu dhaanawino odha fa iishongitho nomatumbulo gawo oomboha dha dhengelwa muule; oga gandjwa kOmusita gumwe awike.
12 Naishewe, mumwandje, londodhwa kushika: okunyola omambo ogendji ihaku hulu, nokwiipyakidhila nokulesha unene ohaku lolokitha olutu.
13 Ekota lyaashihe shu uvika, olyo ndika: Tila Kalunga nou dhiginine iipango ye, oshoka aantu ayehe osho ye na okuninga. 14 Oshoka Kalunga ote eta iilonga ayihe mepangulo, ndyoka tali adha iinima ayihe ya holekwa, iiwanawa nenge iiwinayi.
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.
