1Rangarirawo Musiki wako pamazuva ovujaya bwako, mazuva akaipa asati asvika, namakore asati avapo; panguva yauchazoti handifariri izvozvo;
1Remember 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”;
2zuva nechiedza, nomwedzi, nenyeredzi zvisati zvasvibiswa, makore achidzoka kana mvura yapfuura;
2Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;
3zuva iro, kana vatariri veimba vachidedera, varume vane simba vachikotama, vakuyi vachirega basa ravo, nekuti vava vashoma; navanotarira napamahwindo vasvibirwa;
3in 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,
4mikova ichizarirwa inobudira kunzira dzokumusha, nenzwi rokukuya richidedera; kana achimuka nenzwi reshiri, navaimbi vose vasinganzwiki zvakanaka.
4and 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;
5Zvirokwazvo vachatya zvakakwirira, nezvinotyisa zvichanzi zviri panzira; muamanda uchatumbuka maruva, nemhashu ichazvikwekweredza, uye kuda kose kuchapera; nekuti munhu anoenda kumusha wake usingaperi, vachemi vachafamba-famba panzira dzomumusha;
5yes, 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:
6rwonzi rwesirivha rusati rwasunungurwa, mbiya yendarama isati yaputswa, chirongo chisati chaputswa patsime, nechichereso chinomonerwa chisati chavhunikira pachitubu,
6before 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,
7guruva risati radzokera kuvhu, sezvarakanga rakaita; uye mweya usati wadzokera kuna Mwari akaupa.
7and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8Zvanzi noMuparidzi, Hazvina maturo chose, zvose hazvina maturo!
8“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All is vanity!”
9Zvino, Muparidzi zvaakanga ari munhu akachenjera, akapfuura achidzidzisa vanhu zivo; akarangarira, nokunzvera, nokurongedza zvirevo zvizhinji.
9Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
10Muparidzi wakatsvaka kuti awane mashoko anofadza, uye zvakanyorwa nomoyo wakarurama, ari mashoko ezvokwadi.
10The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth.
11Mashoko avakachenjera akafanana nezvibayiso; sembambo dzakaroverwa kwazvo, ndizvo zvakaita mashoko akaunganidzwa, akapiwa noMufudzi mumwechete.
11The 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.
12Uyezve, mwanakomana wangu, unyeverwe; kuita bhuku zhinji hakuperi, uye kudzidza kuzhinji kunonetsa muviri.
12Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
13Zvino magumo eshoko rose ranzwikwa ndirori: Itya Mwari, uchengete mirairo yake; nekuti ndizvo zvakafanira vanhu vose.
13This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
14nekuti Mwari achatonga basa rimwe nerimwe, pamwechete nezvose zvakavanzika, kunyange zvakanaka, kunyange zvakaipa.
14For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.