Ecclesiastes 12
1 Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the time of affliction come, and the years draw nigh of which thou shalt say: They please me not:
Kae wo Bɔfoɔ wɔ wo mmeranteberɛ mu, ansa na nnabɔne no aba na mfeɛ a wobɛka sɛ, “Menni mu anigyeɛ biara” no reba,
2 Before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars be darkened, and the clouds return after the rain:
ansa na owia ne hann, ɔsrane ne nsoromma aduru sum, na omununkum asane aba osutɔ akyi.
3 When the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall stagger, and the grinders shall be idle in a small number, and they that look through the holes shall be darkened:
Ɛberɛ a efie no awɛmfoɔ ho popo, na mmarima ahoɔdenfoɔ akom, ɛberɛ a ayamfoɔ agyae adwumayɛ, sɛ wɔsua enti na wɔn a wɔhwɛ mpoma mu no ani so ayɛ kusuu;
4 And they shall shut the doors in the street, when the grinder’s voice shall be low, and they shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall grow deaf.
ɛberɛ a wɔatoto abɔntene no apono mu na ayammeeɛ nnyegyeeɛ ano abrɛ ase; ɛberɛ a nnipa te nnomaa su na wɔanyane, nanso wɔn nnwontoɔ ano brɛ ase;
5 And they shall fear high things, and they shall be afraid in the way, the almond tree shall flourish, the locust shall be made fat, and the caper tree shall be destroyed: because man shall go into the house of his eternity, and the mourners shall go round about in the street.
ɛberɛ a nnipa suro ɛsoro kɔ ne mmɔntene so amanenyasɛm; ɛberɛ a sorɔno dua bɛgu nhyerɛnne na abɛbɛ wea korɔ na nkatedeɛ ho adwodwoɔ. Afei onipa kɔ ne daa homeɛ mu na agyaadwotwafoɔ tu gu mmɔntene so.
6 Before the silver cord be broken, and the golden fillet shrink back, and the pitcher be crushed at the fountain, and the wheel be broken upon the cistern,
Kae no, ansa na dwetɛ ahoma no ate, anaasɛ sikakɔkɔɔ ayowaa no abɔ; ansa na sukuruwa no abobɔ wɔ asutene ho, anaasɛ asubura so nkyimiiɛ abubu,
7 And the dust return into its earth, from whence it was, and the spirit return to God, who gave it.
na dɔteɛ sane kɔ asase a ɛfiri mu baeɛ, na honhom no tu kɔ Onyankopɔn a ɔde maeɛ no nkyɛn.
8 Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, and all things are vanity.
“Ahuhudeɛ mu ahuhudeɛ” ɔsɛnkafoɔ no na ɔseɛ. “Biribiara yɛ ahuhudeɛ!”
9 And whereas Ecclesiastes was very wise, he taught the people, and declared the things that he had done: and seeking out, he set forth many parables.
Ɔsɛnkafoɔ no yɛ onyansafoɔ na ɔde nimdeɛ maa nnipa nso. Ɔdweneeɛ na ɔyɛɛ nhwehwɛmu na ɔbubuu mmɛ bebree.
10 He sought profitable words, and wrote words most right, and full of truth.
Ɔsɛnkafoɔ no hwehwɛɛ sɛ ɔbɛnya nsɛm a ɛfata, na deɛ ɔtwerɛeɛ no yɛ pɛ na ɛyɛ nokorɛ nso.
11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails deeply fastened in, which by the counsel of masters are given from one shepherd.
Anyansafoɔ nsɛm te sɛ anantwikafoɔ mpea. Wɔn nsɛm a wɔaboa ano te sɛ nnadewa a wɔde abobɔ dua mu ma akɔ mu yie. Saa nsɛm yi nyinaa firi Odwanhwɛfoɔ baako nkyɛn.
12 More than these, my son, require not. Of making many books there is no end: and much study is an affliction of the flesh.
Mebɔ wo kɔkɔ sɛ twe wo ho firi biribiara a ɛka yeinom ho, me babarima. Nwoma bebrebe atwerɛ nni awieeɛ, na ne sua pii no ma honam yɛ mmerɛ.
13 Let us all hear together the conclusion of the discourse. Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is all man:
Afei ne nyinaa atɔ asom; nsɛm no awieeɛ nie: Suro Onyankopɔn na di nʼahyɛdeɛ so, na onipa asɛdeɛ nyinaa nie.
14 And all things that are done, God will bring into judgment for every error, whether it be good or evil.
Onyankopɔn bɛbu adeyɛ biara atɛn, deɛ wɔayɛ asie nso ka ho, sɛ ɛyɛ papa anaa bɔne.
