傳道書 12

1 你趁着年幼、衰敗的日子尚未來到，就是你所說，我毫無喜樂的那些年日未曾臨近之先，當記念造你的主。

Remember also thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, when thou shall say, I have no pleasure in them,

2 不要等到日頭、光明、月亮、星宿變為黑暗，雨後雲彩反回，

before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars, are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain,

3 看守房屋的發顫，有力的屈身，推磨的稀少就止息，從窗戶往外看的都昏暗；

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 who look out of the windows shall be darkened,

4 街門關閉，推磨的響聲微小，雀鳥一叫，人就起來，唱歌的女子也都衰微。

and the doors shall be shut in the street, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low,

5 人怕高處，路上有驚慌，杏樹開花，蚱蜢成為重擔，人所願的也都廢掉；因為人歸他永遠的家，弔喪的在街上往來。

yea, they shall be afraid of height, and terrors shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail, because man goes to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets,

6 銀鍊折斷，金罐破裂，瓶子在泉旁損壞，水輪在井口破爛，

before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern,

7 塵土仍歸於地，靈仍歸於賜靈的上帝。

and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

8 傳道者說：「虛空的虛空，凡事都是虛空。」

Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, all is vanity.

9 再者，傳道者因有智慧，仍將知識教訓眾人；又默想，又考查，又陳說許多箴言。

And further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yea, he pondered, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

10 傳道者專心尋求可喜悅的言語，是憑正直寫的誠實話。

The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written uprightly-words of truth.

11 智慧人的言語好像刺棍；會中之師的言語又像釘穩的釘子，都是一個牧者所賜的。

The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies. They have been given from one shepherd.

12 我兒，還有一層，你當受勸戒：著書多，沒有窮盡；讀書多，身體疲倦。

And furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

13 這些事都已聽見了，總意就是：敬畏上帝，謹守他的誡命，這是人所當盡的本分。

This is the end of the matter, all has been heard: Fear God, and keep his commandments, for this is the whole of man.

14 因為人所做的事，連一切隱藏的事，無論是善是惡，上帝都必審問。

For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.