< 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 thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the time of affliction come, and the years draw nigh of which thou shalt say: They please me not:
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 be 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 keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall stagger, and the grinders shall be idle in a small number, and they that look through the holes shall 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 shall shut the doors in the street, when the grinder’s voice shall be low, and they shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall grow 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.
And they shall fear high things, and they shall be afraid in the way, the almond tree shall flourish, the locust shall be made fat, and the caper tree shall be destroyed: because man shall go into the house of his eternity, and the mourners shall go round about 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 be broken, and the golden fillet shrink back, and the pitcher be crushed at the fountain, and the wheel be broken upon 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 return into its earth, from whence it was, and the spirit return to God, who gave it.
8 “Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile!”
Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, and all things are vanity.
9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.
And whereas Ecclesiastes was very wise, he taught the people, and declared the things that he had done: and seeking out, he set forth many parables.
10 The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.
He sought profitable words, and wrote words most right, and 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 as goads, and as nails deeply fastened in, which by the counsel of masters are given from one shepherd.
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.
More than these, my son, require not. Of making many books there is no end: and much study is an affliction of 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 hear together the conclusion of the discourse. Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is all man:
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
And all things that are done, God will bring into judgment for every error, whether it be good or evil.