Ecclesiastes 11:7–12:7

Remember Your Creator While Young

7 Light is sweet,

and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.w

8 However many years anyone may live,

let them enjoy them all.

But let them rememberx the days of darkness,

for there will be many.

Everything to come is meaningless.

9 You who are young, be happy while you are young,

and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.

Follow the ways of your heart

and whatever your eyes see,

but know that for all these things

God will bring you into judgment.y

10 So then, banish anxietyz from your heart

and cast off the troubles of your body,

for youth and vigor are meaningless.a

12 Rememberb your Creator

in the days of your youth,

before the days of troublec come

and the years approach when you will say,

“I find no pleasure in them”—

2 before the sun and the light

and the moon and the stars grow dark,

and the clouds return after the rain;

3 when the keepers of the house tremble,

and the strong men stoop,

when the grinders cease because they are few,

and those looking through the windows grow dim;

4 when the doors to the street are closed

and the sound of grinding fades;

when people rise up at the sound of birds,

but all their songs grow faint;d

5 when people are afraid of heights

and of dangers in the streets;

when the almond tree blossoms

and the grasshopper drags itself along

and desire no longer is stirred.

Then people go to their eternal homee

and mournersf go about the streets.

6 Remember him—before the silver cord is severed,

and the golden bowl is broken;

before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,

and the wheel broken at the well,

7 and the dust returnsg to the ground it came from,

and the spirit returns to Godh who gave it.i