Ecclesiastes 12

1 Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when 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 the 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 his eternal home, And the mourners go about the streets.6  Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the well.7 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it.8 Vanity of 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 set in order many proverbs.10 The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was uprightwords of truth.11 The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars 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 much study is wearisome to the flesh.13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is mans all.14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether 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.