Ecclesiastes 12
1 Let your mind be turned to your Maker in the days of your strength, while the evil days come not, and the years are far away when you will say, I have 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 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, are not dark, and the clouds come not back 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 In the day when the keepers of the house are shaking for fear, and the strong men are bent down, and the women who were crushing the grain are at rest because their number is small, and those looking out of the windows are unable to see;
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 are shut in the street, and the sound of the crushing is low, and the voice of the bird is soft, and the daughters of music will be made low;
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 And he is in fear of that which is high, and danger is in the road, and the tree is white with flower, and the least thing is a weight, and desire is at an end, because man goes to his last resting-place, and those who are sorrowing are in 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 Before ever the silver cord is cut, or the vessel of gold is broken, or the pot is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the water-hole;
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 And the dust goes back to the earth as it was, and the spirit goes back 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 All things are to no purpose, says the Preacher, all is to no purpose.
Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, and all things are vanity.
9 And because the Preacher was wise he still gave the people knowledge; searching out, testing, and putting in order a great number of wise sayings.
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 Preacher made search for words which were pleasing, but his writing was in words upright and true.
He sought profitable words, and wrote words most right, and full of truth.
11 The words of the wise are pointed, and sayings grouped together are like nails fixed with a hammer; they are given by one guide.
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 further, my son, take note of this: of the making of books there is no end, and much learning is a weariness to the flesh.
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 This is the last word. All has been said. Have fear of God and keep his laws; because this is right for every man.
Let us all hear together the conclusion of the discourse. Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is all man:
14 God will be judge of every work, with every secret thing, good or evil.
And all things that are done, God will bring into judgment for every error, whether it be good or evil.
