Ecclesiastes 12

12Remember^b your Creator

in the days of your youth,

before the days of trouble^c come

and the years approach when you will say,

“I find no pleasure in them”—

²before the sun and the light

and the moon and the stars grow dark,

and the clouds return after the rain;

³when 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;

⁴when 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

⁵when 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 home^e

and mourners^f go about the streets.

⁶Remember 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,

⁷and the dust returns^g to the ground it came from,

and the spirit returns to God^h who gave it.ⁱ

⁸“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.^aj

“Everything is meaningless!^k”

The Conclusion of the Matter

⁹Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.^{l 10}The Teacher^m searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.ⁿ

¹¹The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails^o—given by one shepherd.^{b 12}Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.

Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.^p

¹³Now all has been heard;

here is the conclusion of the matter:

Fear God^q and keep his commandments,^r

for this is the duty of all mankind.^s

¹⁴For God will bring every deed into judgment,^t

including every hidden thing,^u

whether it is good or evil.