1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
Mkumbuke Muumba wako siku za ujana wako, Kabla hazijaja siku zilizo mbaya, Wala haijakaribia miaka utakaposema, Mimi sina furaha katika hiyo.
2 while the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
Kabla jua, na nuru, na mwezi, Na nyota, havijatiwa giza; Kabla ya kurudi mawingu baada ya mvua;
3 in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,
Siku ile walinzi wa nyumba watakapotetema; Hapo wenye nguvu watakapojiinamisha; Na wasagao kukoma kwa kuwa ni haba; Na hao wachunguliao madirishani kutiwa giza;
4 and the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;
Na milango kufungwa katika njia kuu; Sauti ya kinu itakapokuwa ni ndogo; Na mtu kusituka kwa sauti ya ndege; Nao binti za kuimba watapunguzwa;
5 also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:
Naam, wataogopa kilichoinuka Na vitisho vitakuwapo njiani; Na mlozi utachanua maua; Na panzi atakuwa ni mzigo mzito; Na pilipili hoho itapasuka; Maana mtu aiendea nyumba yake ya milele, Nao waombolezao wazunguka njiani.
6 or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.
Kabla haijakatika kamba ya fedha; Au kuvunjwa bakuli la dhahabu; Au mtungi kuvunjika kisimani; Au gurudumu kuvunjika birikani;
7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Nayo mavumbi kuirudia nchi kama yalivyokuwa, Nayo roho kumrudia Mungu aliyeitoa.
8 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.
Mhubiri asema, Ubatili mtupu; mambo yote ni ubatili!
9 And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
Walakini, kwa sababu huyo Mhubiri alikuwa na hekima, aliendelea kuwafundisha watu maarifa, naam, akatafakari, akatafuta-tafuta, akatunga mithali nyingi.
10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
Huyo Mhubiri akatafuta-tafuta ili apate kuona maneno yapendezayo, na yale yaliyoandikwa kwa unyofu, yaani, maneno ya kweli.
11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
Maneno yao wenye hekima huwa mfano wa michokoo; na kama misumari iliyogongomewa sana; ndivyo yalivyo maneno yao walio wakuu wa makusanyiko, ambayo yatoka kwa mchungaji mmoja.
12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
Tena, zaidi ya hayo, mwanangu, kubali maonyo; hakuna mwisho wo wote wa kutunga vitabu vingi; na kusoma sana huuchosha mwili.
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Hii ndiyo jumla ya maneno; yote yamekwisha sikiwa; Mche Mungu, nawe uzishike amri zake, Maana kwa jumla ndiyo impasayo mtu.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Kwa maana Mungu ataleta hukumuni kila kazi, pamoja na kila neno la siri, likiwa jema au likiwa baya.
