Mkumbuke Muumba wako siku za ujana wako, Kabla hazijaja siku zilizo mbaya, Wala haijakaribia miaka utakaposema, Mimi sina furaha katika hiyo.
Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the evil days come, and the years draw near, When you will say, "I have no pleasure in them;"
Kabla jua, na nuru, na mwezi, Na nyota, havijatiwa giza; Kabla ya kurudi mawingu baada ya mvua;
Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened, And the clouds return after the rain;
Siku ile walinzi wa nyumba watakapotetema; Hapo wenye nguvu watakapojiinamisha; Na wasagao kukoma kwa kuwa ni haba; Na hao wachunguliao madirishani kutiwa giza;
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 are darkened,
Na milango kufungwa katika njia kuu; Sauti ya kinu itakapokuwa ni ndogo; Na mtu kusituka kwa sauti ya ndege; Nao binti za kuimba watapunguzwa;
And the doors shall be shut in the street; When the sound of the grinding is low, And one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, And all the daughters of music shall be brought low;
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.
Yes, they shall be afraid of heights, And terrors will 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:
Kabla haijakatika kamba ya fedha; Au kuvunjwa bakuli la dhahabu; Au mtungi kuvunjika kisimani; Au gurudumu kuvunjika birikani;
Before the silver cord is severed, Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher is broken at the spring, Or the wheel broken at the cistern,
Nayo mavumbi kuirudia nchi kama yalivyokuwa, Nayo roho kumrudia Mungu aliyeitoa.
And the dust returns to the earth as it was, And the spirit returns to God who gave it.
Mhubiri asema, Ubatili mtupu; mambo yote ni ubatili!
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; All is vanity!
Walakini, kwa sababu huyo Mhubiri alikuwa na hekima, aliendelea kuwafundisha watu maarifa, naam, akatafakari, akatafuta-tafuta, akatunga mithali nyingi.
Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
Huyo Mhubiri akatafuta-tafuta ili apate kuona maneno yapendezayo, na yale yaliyoandikwa kwa unyofu, yaani, maneno ya kweli.
The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth.
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.
The words of the wise are like goads; and like nails well fastened are words from the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
Tena, zaidi ya hayo, mwanangu, kubali maonyo; hakuna mwisho wo wote wa kutunga vitabu vingi; na kusoma sana huuchosha mwili.
Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
Hii ndiyo jumla ya maneno; yote yamekwisha sikiwa; Mche Mungu, nawe uzishike amri zake, Maana kwa jumla ndiyo impasayo mtu.
This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
Kwa maana Mungu ataleta hukumuni kila kazi, pamoja na kila neno la siri, likiwa jema au likiwa baya.
For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.