Ecclesiastes — Chapter 12

1Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of adversity come and the years approach of which you will say, “I find no pleasure in them,”

2before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened, and the clouds return after the rain,

3on the day the keepers of the house tremble and the strong men stoop, when those grinding cease because they are few and those watching through windows see dimly,

4when the doors to the street are shut and the sound of the mill fades away, when one rises at the sound of a bird and all the daughters of song grow faint,

5when men fear the heights and dangers of the road, when the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper loses its spring, and the caper berry shrivels—for then man goes to his eternal home and mourners walk the streets.

6Remember Him before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is crushed, before the pitcher is shattered at the spring and the wheel is broken at the well,

7before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

8“Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile!”

9Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.

10The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.

11The words of the wise are like goads, and the anthologies of the masters are like firmly embedded nails driven by a single Shepherd.

12And by these, my son, be further warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.

13When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.

14For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.

1Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

2While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:

3In 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 that look out of the windows be darkened,

4And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;

5Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:

6Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.

7Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

8Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

9And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

10The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.

11The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

12And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

14For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

1Remember also thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

2before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars, are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;

3in 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 that look out of the windows shall be darkened,

4and 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;

5yea, they shall be afraid of [that which is] high, and terrors [shall be] in the way; and the almond-tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goeth to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets:

6before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern,

7and the dust returneth to the earth as it was, and the spirit returneth unto God who gave it.

8Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.

9And further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he pondered, and sought out, [and] set in order many proverbs.

10The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written uprightly, [even] words of truth.

11The words of the wise are as goads; and as nails well fastened are [the words of] the masters of assemblies, [which] are given from one shepherd.

12And 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 end of the matter; all hath been heard: fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole [duty] of man.

14For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

1So remember your Creator in the days of your youth— before the difficult days come and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;

2before the sun and the light of the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds disappear after the rain;

3when those who keep watch over the house begin to tremble, and the virile men begin to stoop over, and the grinders begin to cease because they grow few, and those who look through the windows grow dim,

4and the doors along the street are shut; when the sound of the grinding mill grows low, and one is awakened by the sound of a bird, and all their songs grow faint,

5and they are afraid of heights and the dangers in the street; the almond blossoms grow white, and the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caper berry shrivels up— because man goes to his eternal home, and the mourners go about in the streets—

6before the silver cord is removed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the well, or the water wheel is broken at the cistern—

7and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the life’s breath returns to God who gave it.

8“Absolutely futile!” laments the Teacher, “All these things are futile!”

9Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught knowledge to the people; he carefully evaluated and arranged many proverbs.

10The Teacher sought to find delightful words and to write accurately truthful sayings.

11The words of the sages are like prods, and the collected sayings are like firmly fixed nails; they are given by one shepherd.

12Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. There is no end to the making of many books, and much study is exhausting to the body.

13Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.

14For God will evaluate every deed, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.

1Remember 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”;

2Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;

3in 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,

4and 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;

5yes, 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:

6before 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,

7and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

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

9Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

10The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth.

11The 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.

12Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

13This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.

14For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.