12 Remember anow your Creator in the days of your youth,

Before the 1difficult days come,

And the years draw near bwhen you say,

“I have no pleasure in them”:

2 While the sun and the light,

The moon and the stars,

Are not darkened,

And the clouds do not return after the rain;

3 In the day when the keepers of the house tremble,

And the strong men bow down;

When the grinders cease because they are few,

And those that look through the windows grow dim;

4 When the doors are shut in the streets,

And the sound of grinding is low;

When one rises up at the sound of a bird,

And all cthe daughters of music are brought low.

5 Also they are afraid of height,

And of terrors in the way;

When the almond tree blossoms,

The grasshopper is a burden,

And desire fails.

For man goes to dhis eternal home,

And ethe mourners go about the streets.

6 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is 2loosed,

Or the golden bowl is broken,

Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain,

Or the wheel broken at the well.

7 fThen the dust will return to the earth as it was,

gAnd the spirit will return to God hwho gave it.

8 “Vanity iof vanities,” says the Preacher,

“All is vanity.”

The Whole Duty of Man

9 And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and jset 3in order many proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find 4acceptable words; and what was written was upright—words of truth. 11 The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of 5scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. 12 And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and kmuch study is wearisome to the flesh.

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

lFear God and keep His commandments,

For this is man’s all.

14 For mGod will bring every work into judgment,

Including every secret thing,

Whether good or evil.