1
Tupa chakula chako usoni pa maji; Maana utakiona baada ya siku nyingi.
Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.
2
Uwagawie sehemu watu saba, hata wanane; Maana hujui baa gani litakalokuwa juu ya nchi.
Divide your portion among seven, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may befall the land.
3
Mawingu yakiwa yamejaa mvua, Yataimimina juu ya nchi; Na mti ukianguka kuelekea kusini, au kaskazini, Paangukapo ule mti, papo hapo utalala.
If the clouds are full, they will pour out rain upon the earth; whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie.
4
Mwenye kuuangalia upepo hatapanda; Naye ayatazamaye mawingu hatavuna.
He who watches the wind will fail to sow, and he who observes the clouds will fail to reap.
5
Kama vile wewe usipojua njia ya upepo ni ipi, wala jinsi mifupa ikuavyo tumboni mwake mja mzito; kadhalika huijui kazi ya Mungu, afanyaye mambo yote.
As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones are formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.
6
Asubuhi panda mbegu zako, Wala jioni usiuzuie mkono wako. Kwa maana wewe hujui ni zipi zitakazofanikiwa,kama ni hii au hii,au kama zote zitafaa sawasawa.
Sow your seed in the morning, and do not rest your hands in the evening, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or if both will equally prosper.
7
Kweli nuru ni tamu, tena ni jambo la kupendeza macho kutazama jua.
Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.
8
Naam, mtu akiishi miaka mingi, na aifurahie yote; lakini na azikumbuke siku zijazo za giza, kwa maana zitakuwa nyingi. Mambo yote yajayo ni ubatili.
So if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is futile.
9
Wewe kijana, uufurahie ujana wako, na moyo wako ukuchangamshe siku za ujana wako, ukaziendee njia za moyo wako, na katika maono ya macho yako, lakini ujue wewe ya kwamba kwa ajili ya hayo yote Mungu atakuleta hukumuni.
Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.
10
Kwa hiyo ondoa majonzi moyoni mwako, nawe uuondoe ubaya mwilini mwako; kwa maana ujana ni ubatili, na utu uzima pia.
So banish sorrow from your heart, and cast off pain from your body, for youth and vigor are fleeting.