Ecclesiastes 12

1  REMEMBER [earnestly] also your Creator [that you are not your own, but His property now] in the days of your youth, before the evil days come or the years draw near when you will say [of physical pleasures], I have no enjoyment in them--2  Before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened [sight is impaired], and the clouds [of depression] return after the rain [of tears];3  In the day when the keepers of the house [the hands and the arms] tremble, and the strong men [the feet and the knees] bow themselves, and the grinders [the molar teeth] cease because they are few, and those who look out of the windows [the eyes] are darkened;4  When the doors [the lips] are shut in the streets and the sound of the grinding [of the teeth] is low, and one rises up at the voice of a bird and the crowing of a cock, and all the daughters of music [the voice and the ear] are brought low;5  Also when [the old] are afraid of danger from that which is high, and fears are in the way, and the almond tree [their white hair] blooms, and the grasshopper [a little thing] is a burden, and desire and appetite fail, because man goes to his everlasting home and the mourners go about the streets or marketplaces. 6  [Remember your Creator earnestly now] before the silver cord [of life] is snapped apart, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern [and the whole circulatory system of the blood ceases to function];7  Then shall the dust [out of which God made man’s body] return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return to God Who gave it.8  Vapor of vapors and futility of futilities, says the Preacher. All is futility (emptiness, falsity, vainglory, and transitoriness)!9  And furthermore, because the Preacher was wise, he [Solomon] still taught the people knowledge; and he pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.10  The Preacher sought acceptable words, even to write down rightly words of truth or correct sentiment.11  The words of the wise are like prodding goads, and firmly fixed [in the mind] like nails are the collected sayings which are given [as proceeding] from one Shepherd. 12  But about going further [than the words given by one Shepherd], my son, be warned. Of making many books there is no end [so do not believe everything you read], and much study is a weariness of the flesh.13  All has been heard; the end of the matter is: Fear God [revere and worship Him, knowing that He is] and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man [the full, original purpose of his creation, the object of God’s providence, the root of character, the foundation of all happiness, the adjustment to all inharmonious circumstances and conditions under the sun] and the whole [duty] for every man.14  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it is good or evil.

Ecclesiastes 12

Fear God Now Because Old Age and Death Come Quickly

1 So remembert your Creator in the days of your youth –
beforet the difficultt days come,
and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;

2 before the sun and the lightt of the moon and the stars grow dark,
and the clouds disappeart after the rain;

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

4 and the doors along the street are shut;
when the sound of the grinding millt grows low,
and one is awakenedt by the sound of a bird,
and all theirt songst grow faint,t

5 and they are afraid of heights and the dangerst in the street;
the almond blossomst grow white,t
and the grasshoppert drags itself along,t
and the caper berryt shrivels upst –
because man goes to his eternal home,t
and the mourners go about in the streets –

6 before the silver cord is removed,
or the golden bowl is broken,
or the pitcher is shattered at the well,t
or the water wheelt is broken at the cistern –

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

Concluding Refrain: Qoheleth Restates His Thesis

8 “Absolutely futile!”t laments the Teacher,t
“All of these thingst are futile!”ts

Concluding Epilogue: Qoheleth’s Advice is Wise

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

10 The Teacher sought to find delightfult words,
and to writes accurately truthful sayings.t

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

Concluding Exhortation: Fear God and Obey His Commands!

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

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

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