Ecclesiastes 12

1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of adversity come and the years approach of which you will say, “I find no pleasure in them,”

1 年轻时要记住你的创造主，不要等到衰老的岁月来临时才哀叹：“我的日子毫无乐趣。”

2 before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened, and the clouds return after the rain,

2 那时，太阳、月亮、星星都暗淡无光，雨后乌云再现；

3 on the day the keepers of the house tremble and the strong men stoop, when those grinding cease because they are few and those watching through windows see dimly,

3 守卫家园的手脚颤抖，强壮的身躯变得弯腰驼背；牙齿稀少，无法咀嚼；视力衰退，看不清楚；

4 when the doors to the street are shut and the sound of the mill fades away, when one rises at the sound of a bird and all the daughters of song grow faint,

4 耳朵发背，听不到推磨声；小鸟一叫，人就起来；歌声沙哑，不再美妙；

5 when men fear the heights and dangers of the road, when the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper loses its spring, and the caper berry shrivels—for then man goes to his eternal home and mourners walk the streets.

5 惧怕高处，走路战战兢兢；头发白如银杏，精力枯竭，欲望荡然无存；人都走向永远的归宿，吊丧的人往来于街上；

6 Remember Him before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is crushed, before the pitcher is shattered at the spring and the wheel is broken at the well,

6 银链断裂，金碗摔坏，泉旁的瓶子破碎，井口的轮子朽烂。

7 before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

7 那时尘土必归回大地，灵也要归回赐灵的上帝。

8 “Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile!”

8 传道者说：“虚空的虚空，一切都是虚空。”

9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.

9 传道者不但有智慧，还把知识传授给众人。他经过细心推敲和研究之后，编写了许多警世的箴言。

10 The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.

10 传道者费尽心思寻找金玉良言，所写的都是正直诚实的道理。

11 The words of the wise are like goads, and the anthologies of the masters are like firmly embedded nails driven by a single Shepherd.

11 智者的言语好像赶牛的刺棍，他们收集的箴言像钉牢的钉子，都是一位牧者所赐的。

12 And by these, my son, be further warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.

12 我亲爱的儿子，还有一件事，你要听我的忠告：著书多，没有穷尽；读书多，身体疲劳。

13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.

13 以上所说的，总而言之，就是要敬畏上帝，遵守祂的诫命，这是人的本分。

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

14 因为人一切的行为，无论善恶，包括一切隐秘事，上帝都必审问。