EcclesiastesImiZekeliso Chapter 12

1. Uze umkhumbule ke uMdali wakho ngemihla yobutsha bakho, ingekezi imihla yobubi, ingekafiki iminyaka owothi ngayo, Ayindiyolele;

2. lingekabi mnyama ilanga, nokukhanya, nenyanga, neenkwenkwezi, engekabuyi amafu emva kwemvula;

3. loo mini baya kungevezela abagcini bendlu, agobe amadoda anobukroti, ziyeke iintokazi ezisilayo ngokuba zimbalwa, kube mnyama kwabakhangela ngeefestile;

4. zivalwe iingcango ngasesitratweni, kwakubon’ ukuba sidambile isandi sokusila, evuka kwazisathetha iintaka, zinqwilile zonke iintombi zengoma;

5. naxeshikweni baya kuzoyika iindawo eziphakamileyo, neento eziqhiphula umbilini zibe sendleleni; utyatyambe umamangile, uchabachabase umqhathu, utshitshe umnqweno; ngokuba umntu esiya ekhayeni lakhe laphakade, bajikajike ezitratweni abambambazeli;

6. ingekaqhawuki intambo yesilivere, lityumke iselwa legolide, uqhekeke umphanda emthonjeni, yaphuke ivili iwe equleni;

7. lungekabuyeli emhlabeni uthuli, njengoko belunjalo, umoya ubuyele kuThixo owawunikayo.

8. Amampunge awo amampunge, itsho iNtshumayeli; into yonke ingamampunge.

9. Phezu koko, ngokuba iNtshumayeli ibisisilumko, yamana ibafundisa abantu ukwazi, yalinganisela, yabagocagoca, yayila imizekeliso emininzi.

10. INtshumayeli yafuna, inga ingafumana amazwi anandiphekayo, kuthi nokubhalwayo kulunge, ibe ngamazwi enyaniso.

11. Amazwi ezilumko anjengeemviko; anjengezikhonkwane ezitshonisiweyo asezintlanganiseleni, anikwe ngumalusi emnye.

12. Nangaphezu koko, nyana wam, vuseleleka; ukwenza iincwadi ezininzi akunakuphela, nokuphikela ukufunda okuninzi kudinisa inyama.

13. Ukuhlanganiswa kwentetho, yakuba ivakele into yonke, nanku: Yoyika uThixo, ugcine imithetho yakhe; ngokuba indawo leyo yimfanelo yoluntu lonke.

14. Ngokuba izenzo zonke uThixo uya kuzizisa ekugwetyweni, izinto zonke ezifihlakeleyo, nokuba zilungile nokuba zimbi.