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12 Cofia yn awr dy Greawdwr yn nyddiau dy ieuenctid, cyn dyfod y dyddiau blin, a nesáu o’r blynyddoedd yn y rhai y dywedi, Nid oes i mi ddim diddanwch ynddynt: Cyn tywyllu yr haul, a’r goleuni, a’r lleuad, a’r sêr, a dychwelyd y cymylau ar ôl y glaw: Yr amser y cryna ceidwaid y tŷ, ac y cryma y gwŷr cryfion, ac y metha y rhai sydd yn malu, am eu bod yn ychydig, ac y tywylla y rhai sydd yn edrych trwy ffenestri; A chau y pyrth yn yr heolydd, pan fo isel sŵn y malu, a’i gyfodi wrth lais yr aderyn, a gostwng i lawr holl ferched cerdd: Ie, yr amser yr ofnant yr hyn sydd uchel, ac yr arswydant yn y ffordd, ac y blodeua y pren almon, ac y bydd y ceiliog rhedyn yn faich, ac y palla chwant: pan elo dyn i dŷ ei hir gartref, a’r galarwyr yn myned o bob tu yn yr heol: Cyn torri y llinyn arian, a chyn torri y cawg aur, a chyn torri y piser gerllaw y ffynnon, neu dorri yr olwyn wrth y pydew. Yna y dychwel y pridd i’r ddaear fel y bu, ac y dychwel yr ysbryd at Dduw, yr hwn a’i rhoes ef.

Gwagedd o wagedd, medd y Pregethwr; gwagedd yw y cwbl. A hefyd, am fod y Pregethwr yn ddoeth, efe a ddysgodd eto wybodaeth i’r bobl; ie, efe a ystyriodd, ac a chwiliodd allan, ac a drefnodd ddiarhebion lawer. 10 Chwiliodd y Pregethwr am eiriau cymeradwy; a’r hyn oedd ysgrifenedig oedd uniawn, sef geiriau gwirionedd. 11 Geiriau y doethion sydd megis symbylau, ac fel hoelion wedi eu sicrhau gan feistriaid y gynulleidfa, y rhai a roddir oddi wrth un bugail. 12 Ymhellach hefyd, fy mab, cymer rybudd wrth y rhai hyn; nid oes diben ar wneuthur llyfrau lawer, a darllen llawer sydd flinder i’r cnawd.

13 Swm y cwbl a glybuwyd yw, Ofna Dduw, a chadw ei orchmynion: canys hyn yw holl ddyled dyn. 14 Canys Duw a ddwg bob gweithred i farn, a phob peth dirgel, pa un bynnag fyddo ai da ai drwg.

12 Remember(A) your Creator
    in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble(B) come
    and the years approach when you will say,
    “I find no pleasure in them”—
before the sun and the light
    and the moon and the stars grow dark,
    and the clouds return after the rain;
when the keepers of the house tremble,
    and the strong men stoop,
when the grinders cease because they are few,
    and those looking through the windows grow dim;
when the doors to the street are closed
    and the sound of grinding fades;
when people rise up at the sound of birds,
    but all their songs grow faint;(C)
when people are afraid of heights
    and of dangers in the streets;
when the almond tree blossoms
    and the grasshopper drags itself along
    and desire no longer is stirred.
Then people go to their eternal home(D)
    and mourners(E) go about the streets.

Remember him—before the silver cord is severed,
    and the golden bowl is broken;
before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
    and the wheel broken at the well,
and the dust returns(F) to the ground it came from,
    and the spirit returns to God(G) who gave it.(H)

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.[a](I)
    “Everything is meaningless!(J)

The Conclusion of the Matter

Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.(K) 10 The Teacher(L) searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.(M)

11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails(N)—given by one shepherd.[b] 12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.

Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.(O)

13 Now all has been heard;
    here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God(P) and keep his commandments,(Q)
    for this is the duty of all mankind.(R)
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,(S)
    including every hidden thing,(T)
    whether it is good or evil.

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 12:8 Or the leader of the assembly; also in verses 9 and 10
  2. Ecclesiastes 12:11 Or Shepherd