第 12 章

12:1

现在，记住你的造物主，趁你年轻，衰败的日子，尚未来到，你要说毫无快乐的岁月，也未临近。

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them；

12:2

不要等到太阳，光明，月亮，星宿，变为黑暗，也不要等到雨后的云返回，

While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain：

12:3

那时，看门的，发颤，强壯的，弓背，推磨的，缺人而停，看窗外的，模模糊糊，

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,

12:4

街门关闭，推磨声低了，鸟雀一叫，人就站起，唱歌女子，歌声低了；

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 musick shall be brought low；

12:5

而且，当人怕高，恐惧挡在路上，杏树白花如盖，蚱蜢拖着腿脚（比兴，老年病态），所愿（活下去）失败了；因为人，归他永远的家，吊丧的，走在街上；

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 goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets：

12:6

一旦银绳（生命线）松开，金碗打破，瓶子破于泉边，水轮破于井口；

Or ever 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.

12:7

于是，尘归原来之地，灵归赐灵的神。

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was：and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

12:8

传道者说，虚空的虚空，一切都是虚空。

Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher；all is vanity.

12:9

再者，因为传道者有智慧，他将知识教导众人；是的，又留意，又搜索，整理了许多箴言。

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.

12:10

传道者，寻求合意的语言，写的话正直，甚至是真理的话。

The preacher sought to find out acceptable words：and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.

12:11

智慧人的语言，像刺棍（赶马棍），像装配大师钉的钉子，都是一个牧者所赐。

The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

12:12

我儿，还有一层，你当受劝戒；著书多，没有穷尽；读书多，身体疲倦。

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.

12:13

让我们听听，这些事的结论：敬畏神，谨守他的诫命，这是众人的本分。

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter：Fear God, and keep his commandments：for this is the whole duty of man.

12:14

因为人所作的事，连同一切隐藏的事，无论是善是恶，神都必审问。

For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.