Ecclesiastes 12

The Problems of Old Age

1 Remember your Creator while you are young,
before the days of trouble come and the years when you say, “I find no pleasure in them.”

2 When you get old, the light from the sun, moon, and stars will grow dark; the rain clouds will never seem to go away.

3 At that time your arms will shake and your legs will become weak.
Your teeth will fall out so you cannot chew, and your eyes will not see clearly.

4 Your ears will be deaf to the noise in the streets, and you will barely hear the millstone grinding grain.
You’ll wake up when a bird starts singing, but you will barely hear singing.

5 You will fear high places and will be afraid to go for a walk.
Your hair will become white like the flowers on an almond tree. You will limp along like a grasshopper when you walk. Your appetite will be gone.
Then you will go to your everlasting home, and people will go to your funeral.

6 Soon your life will snap like a silver chain or break like a golden bowl.
You will be like a broken pitcher at a spring, or a broken wheel at a well.

7 You will turn back into the dust of the earth again, but your spirit will return to God who gave it.

8 Everything is useless! The Teacher says that everything is useless.

Conclusion: Honor God

9 The Teacher was very wise and taught the people what he knew. He very carefully thought about, studied, and set in order many wise teachings.

10 The Teacher looked for just the right words to write what is dependable and true.
11 Words from wise people are like sharp sticks used to guide animals. They are like nails that have been driven in firmly. Altogether they are wise teachings that come from one Shepherd.

12 So be careful, my son, about other teachings. People are always writing books, and too much study will make you tired.

13 Now, everything has been heard, so I give my final advice:
Honor God and obey his commands, because this is all people must do.

14 God will judge everything, even what is done in secret,
the good and the evil.

Ecclesiastes 12

1 Remember 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;2 before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars, are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;3 in 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,4 and 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;5 yea, 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:6 before 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,7 and the dust returneth to the earth as it was, and the spirit returneth unto God who gave it.8 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.9 And further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he pondered, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.10 The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written uprightly, even words of truth.11 The 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.12 And 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.14 For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.