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, also, thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, of which thou shalt say, “I have no pleasure in them;”
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 become dark, 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,
at the time when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows are 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,
when the doors are shut in the streets, while the sound of the mill is low; when they rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music are brought low;
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.
when also they are afraid of that which is high, and terrors are in the way, and the almond is despised, and the locust is a burden, and the caper-berry is powerless; since man goeth to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets; —
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 snapped asunder, and the golden bowl be crushed, or the bucket broken at the fountain, or the wheel shattered at the well,
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 to the earth as it was, and the spirit return to God who gave it.
8 “Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile!”
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; 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.
Moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he considered, and sought out, and set in order, many proverbs.
10 The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.
The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and to write correctly words 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; yea, as nails driven in are the words of members of assemblies, given by 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.
And, moreover, by these, my son, be warned! To the multiplying of books there is no end, and much study wearieth 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 hear the end of the whole discourse! Fear God and keep his commandments! For this is the duty of every man.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
For God will bring every work into the judgment which there is upon every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
