Eklezyas 12
1 Anplis, sonje Kreyatè ou a nan jou jenès ou yo, avan move jou yo rive e ane yo pwoche lè ou va di: “Mwen pa pran plezi nan yo;”
Let your mind be turned to your Maker in the days of your strength, while the evil days come not, and the years are far away when you will say, I have no pleasure in them;
2 Avan solèy la ak limyè a, lalin nan ak zetwal yo vin tounwa, e nwaj yo retounen apre lapli yo;
While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, are not dark, and the clouds come not back after the rain;
3 nan jou ke gadyen kay la tranble a, e mesye pwisan yo vin koube a. Lè sa yo k ap moule a rete san travay akoz anpil nan yo ki manke, e sila k ap gade nan fenèt yo vin mal pou wè.
In the day when the keepers of the house are shaking for fear, and the strong men are bent down, and the women who were crushing the grain are at rest because their number is small, and those looking out of the windows are unable to see;
4 Lè pòt vè lari yo vin fèmen akoz bri moulen an vin ba, e yon moun va leve ak son zwazo a, epi tout fi chanson yo va rete ba.
When the doors are shut in the street, and the sound of the crushing is low, and the voice of the bird is soft, and the daughters of music will be made low;
5 Anplis mesye yo va vin pè yon wo plas ak gwo danje k ap vini a. Lè pye zanmann nan fleri, krikèt volan rale kò l olon wout la, e dezi gason an pa ka. Paske lòm nan ap prale nan kay etènèl li a, pandan sila k ap fè dèy yo vire toupatou nan wout la.
And he is in fear of that which is high, and danger is in the road, and the tree is white with flower, and the least thing is a weight, and desire is at an end, because man goes to his last resting-place, and those who are sorrowing are in the streets;
6 Sonje Li avan kòd ajan an kase, e bòl an lò a kraze kivèt dlo la kote pwi a vin fann, e wou sitèn nan vin kraze.
Before ever the silver cord is cut, or the vessel of gold is broken, or the pot is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the water-hole;
7 Paske konsa pousyè la va retounen nan tè a jan li te ye a, e lespri a va retounen kote Bondye ki te bay li a.
And the dust goes back to the earth as it was, and the spirit goes back to God who gave it.
8 “Vanite sou vanite”, predikatè a di: “tout se vanite!”
All things are to no purpose, says the Preacher, all is to no purpose.
9 Anplis akoz li te yon nonm saj, predikatè a te enstwi pèp la ak konesans. Wi, li te reflechi, chache twouve, e te aranje anpil pwovèb.
And because the Preacher was wise he still gave the people knowledge; searching out, testing, and putting in order a great number of wise sayings.
10 Predikatè a te chache jwenn bèl mò pou ekri pawòl verite yo byen kòrèk.
The Preacher made search for words which were pleasing, but his writing was in words upright and true.
11 Pawòl a moun saj yo tankou pwent pike bèt yo ye; tankou klou ki kloure nèt, se konsa ansanm a pawòl sila yo ye. Se yon sèl Bèje ki bay yo tout.
The words of the wise are pointed, and sayings grouped together are like nails fixed with a hammer; they are given by one guide.
12 Men anplis ke sa, fis mwen, veye byen: ekri anpil liv se yon bagay san rete, e anpil devosyon a liv yo va fatige kò ou.
And further, my son, take note of this: of the making of books there is no end, and much learning is a weariness to the flesh.
13 Konklizyon lè tout bagay fin tande se: Gen lakrent Bondye e kenbe kòmandman li yo, akoz se sa ki aplike a tout moun.
This is the last word. All has been said. Have fear of God and keep his laws; because this is right for every man.
14 Paske Bondye va pote tout zèv nan jijman; tout sa ki kache, kit li bon kit li mal.
God will be judge of every work, with every secret thing, good or evil.
