Ecclesiastes 12
1 But remember also thy Creator in the days of thy youthful vigor, while the evil days are not yet come, nor those years draw nigh of which thou wilt say, I have no pleasure in them;
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 While the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars, are not yet darkened, and the clouds return not again after the rain;
Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;
3 On the day when the watchmen of the house will tremble and the men of might will bend themselves, and the grinders stand idle, because they are become few, and those be darkened that look through the windows;
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 when the two doors on the streets will be locked, while the sound of the mill becometh dull, and man riseth up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low;
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 Also when men will be afraid of every elevation, and are terrified on every way, and the almond-tree will refuse [its blossom], and the locust will drag itself slowly along, and the desire will gainsay compliance; because man goeth to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets;
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 While the silver cord is not yet torn loose, and the golden bowl is not crushed, and the pitcher is not broken at the fountain, and the wheel is not crushed at the cistern;
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 When the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return unto God who gave it.—
and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8 Vanity of vanities, saith Koheleth: all is vanity.—
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All is vanity!”
9 And in addition to this that Koheleth was wise, he continually also taught the people knowledge, and he probed, and searched out, and composed many proverbs.
Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
10 Koheleth sought to find out acceptable words, and that which would be written down uprightly, even words of truth.
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 fastened [are the words of] the men of the assemblies, which are given by one shepherd.
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 But more than all these, my son, take warning for thyself: the making of many books would have no end; and much preaching is a weariness of the flesh.
Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
13 The end of the matter is, let us hear the whole: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole [duty of] man.
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 every deed will God bring into the judgment concerning every thing that hath been hidden, whether it be good, or whether it be bad.
For God will bring every work into judgement, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.
