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 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, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, are not dark, and the clouds come not back after the rain;

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

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 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 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 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;

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 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 is severed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the spring, or the wheel broken at 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 returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

8 All things are to no purpose, says the Preacher, all is to no purpose.

“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All is 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.

Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

10 The Preacher made search for words which were pleasing, but his writing was in words upright and true.

The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words 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 like goads; and like nails well fastened are words from the masters of assemblies, which 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.

Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness 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.

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 God will be judge of every work, with every secret thing, good or evil.

For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.