Ecclesiastes 12
1 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.”
Also call to mind your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of difficulty come, and before the years arrive when you say, “I have no pleasure in them,”
2 Before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain,
do this before the light of the sun and the moon and the stars grows dark, and dark clouds return after the rain.
3 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.
That will be the time when the palace guards will tremble, and strong men are bent over, and the women who grind cease because they are few, and those who look out of windows no longer see clearly.
4 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.
That will be the time when the doors are shut in the street, and the sound of grinding stops, when men are startled at the voice of a bird, and the singing of girls' voices fades away.
5 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.
That will be the time when men become afraid of heights and of dangers along on the road, and when the almond tree blossoms, and when grasshoppers drag themselves along, and when natural desires fail. Then man goes to his eternal home and the mourners go down the streets.
6 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,
Call to mind your Creator before the silver cord is cut, or the golden bowl is crushed, or the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the water wheel is broken at the well,
7 and the dust returns to its earth, from which it was, and the spirit returns to God, who granted it.
before the dust returns to the earth where it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8 Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, and all is vanity!
“A mist of vapor,” says the Teacher, “everything is vanishing vapor.”
9 And since Ecclesiastes was very wise, he taught the people, and he described what he had accomplished. And while searching, he composed many parables.
The Teacher was wise and he taught the people knowledge. He studied and contemplated and set in order many proverbs.
10 He sought useful words, and he wrote most righteous words, which were full of truth.
The Teacher sought to write using vivid, upright words of truth.
11 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.
The words of wise people are like goads. Like nails driven deeply are the words of the masters in collections of their proverbs, which are taught by one shepherd.
12 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.
My son, be aware of something more: the making of many books, which has no end and much study brings weariness to the body.
13 Let us all listen together to the end of the discourse. Fear God, and observe his commandments. This is everything for man.
The end of the matter after everything has been heard, is that you must fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of mankind.
14 And so, for all that is done and for each error, God will bring judgment: whether it was good or evil.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
