12
1 Remember 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;”
2 Before
the sun, the light,
the moon, and
the stars are
darkened,
and the clouds
return after the
rain;
3 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 who
look out of
the windows are
darkened,
4 and
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;
5 yes,
they shall be
afraid of heights,
and terrors will
be on 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;
6 before
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,
7 and
the dust returns
to the earth
as it was,
and the spirit
returns to God who
gave it.
8 “Vanity
of vanities,” says
the Preacher.
“All is vanity!”
9 Further,
because the Preacher
was wise, he
still taught the
people knowledge. Yes,
he pondered, sought
out, and set in
order many
proverbs.
10 The
Preacher sought to
find out
acceptable words,
and that which
was written blamelessly,
words of truth.
11 The
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.
12 Furthermore,
my son, be
admonished: of
making many books
there is no
end; and much
study is a
weariness of the
flesh.
13 This
is the end
of the matter.
All has been
heard. Fear God
and keep his
commandments; for
this is the
whole duty of
man.
14 For God
will bring every
work into judgment,
with every hidden
thing, whether it
is good, or whether
it is evil.