Ecclesiastes 12

1 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;”

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 sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are 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 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,

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 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;

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 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;

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 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,

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 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, 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 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All is vanity!”

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

9 Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order 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 Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, 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 like nails well fastened are words from the masters of assemblies, which are given from one 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 Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

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 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.

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 work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.

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