Omubuulizi 12
1 Jjukiranga omutonzi wo mu nnaku ez’obuvubuka bwo, ng’ennaku embi tezinnakutuukako n’emyaka nga teginnasembera, mw’olyogerera nti, “Sizisanyukira”;
Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when you shall say, I have no pleasure in them;
2 ng’enjuba n’obutangaavu, omwezi n’emmunyeenye nga tebinnafuuka kizikiza; nga n’ebire biweddemu enkuba;
While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
3 abakuumi b’enju mwe balikankanira, n’abasajja ab’amaanyi mwe bakutamizibwa, nga n’abo abasa baleseeyo okusa, kubanga batono, n’abo abalingiza mu butuli nga tebakyalaba;
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,
4 nga n’enzigi ez’olekedde enguudo zigaddwawo, n’eddoboozi ly’okusa nga livumbedde; ng’abasajja bagolokoka olw’eddoboozi ly’ennyonyi, naye nga ennyimba zaabwe zivumbedde;
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 music shall be brought low;
5 nga batya buli kiwanvu n’akabi akali mu nguudo, ng’omubira gumulisizza, ng’enseenene yeewalula era nga tewakyali alimu keetaaga kino oba kiri. Omuntu n’agenda mu nnyumba ye gy’alimala ekiseera ekiwanvu n’abakungubazi ne babuna enguudo.
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 goes to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets:
6 Jjukira omutonzi wo ng’omuguwa gwa ffeeza tegunnakutuka oba ebbakuli eya zaabu nga tennayatika, ng’ensuwa tennayatikira ku luzzi obanga ne nnamuziga tennamenyekera ku luzzi,
Before even 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.
7 ng’enfuufu edda mu ttaka mwe yava, n’omwoyo ne gudda eri Katonda eyaguwa omuntu.
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
8 Obutaliimu! Obutaliimu! Omubuulizi bw’agamba, “Buli kintu butaliimu.”
Vanity of vanities, says the preacher; all is vanity.
9 Omubuulizi teyali mugezi kyokka, wabula yayigiriza n’abantu eby’amagezi. Yalowooza n’anoonyereza n’ayiiyaayo engero nnyingi.
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.
10 Omubuulizi yanoonyereza n’afuna ebigambo ebituufu byennyini, ne bye yawandiika byali byesimbu era nga bya mazima.
The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
11 Ebigambo by’abantu abagezi biri ng’emiwunda, engero zino ezakuŋŋaanyizibwa omusumba omu ziri ng’emisumaali egyakomererwa ne ginywezebwa ennyo.
The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
12 Mwana wange weekuume ekintu kyonna ekyongerwako. Okuwandiika ebitabo ebingi tekukoma, n’okuyiga okungi kukooya omubiri.
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.
13 Kale byonna biwuliddwa; eno y’enkomerero yaabyo: Tyanga Katonda okwatenga amateeka ge, kubanga ekyo omuntu ky’agwanira okukola.
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 Kubanga Katonda alisala omusango olwa buli kikolwa; ekyo ekyakwekebwa, nga kirungi oba nga kibi.
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
