Ecclesiastes 12

1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of adversity come and the years approach of which you will say, “I find no pleasure in them,”

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the time of affliction arrives and the years draw near, about which you will say, “These do not please me.”

2 before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened, and the clouds return after the rain,

Before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain,

3 on the day the keepers of the house tremble and the strong men stoop, when those grinding cease because they are few and those watching through windows see dimly,

when the guardians of the house will tremble, and the strongest men will waver, and those who grind grain will be idle, except for a small number, and those who look through the keyholes will be darkened.

4 when the doors to the street are shut and the sound of the mill fades away, when one rises at the sound of a bird and all the daughters of song grow faint,

And they will close the doors to the street, when the voice of he who grinds the grain will be humbled, and they will be disturbed at the sound of a flying thing, and all the daughters of song shall become deaf.

5 when men fear the heights and dangers of the road, when the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper loses its spring, and the caper berry shrivels— for then man goes to his eternal home and mourners walk the streets.

Likewise, they will fear the things above them, and they will dread the way. The almond tree will flourish; the locust will be fattened; and the caper plant will be scattered, because man shall go into the house of his eternity, and the mourners shall wander around in the street.

6 Remember Him before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is crushed, before the pitcher is shattered at the spring and the wheel is broken at the well,

Before the silver cord is broken, and the golden band pulls away, and the pitcher is crushed over the fountain, and the wheel is broken above the cistern,

7 before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

and the dust returns to its earth, from which it was, and the spirit returns to God, who granted it.

8 “Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile!”

Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, and all is vanity!

9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.

And since Ecclesiastes was very wise, he taught the people, and he described what he had accomplished. And while searching, he composed many parables.

10 The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.

He sought useful words, and he wrote most righteous words, which were full of truth.

11 The words of the wise are like goads, and the anthologies of the masters are like firmly embedded nails driven by a single Shepherd.

The words of the wise are like a goad, and like nails deeply fastened, which, through the counsel of teachers, are set forth by one pastor.

12 And by these, my son, be further warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.

You should require no more than this, my son. For there is no end to the making of many books. And excessive study is an affliction to the flesh.

13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.

Let us all listen together to the end of the discourse. Fear God, and observe his commandments. This is everything for man.

14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.

And so, for all that is done and for each error, God will bring judgment: whether it was good or evil.