1 Remember your Creator
in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come
and the years approach when you will say,
"I find no pleasure in them"- |
2 before the sun and the light
and the moon and the stars grow dark,
and the clouds return after the rain; |
3 when 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; |
4 when the doors to the street are closed
and the sound of grinding fades;
when men rise up at the sound of birds,
but all their songs grow faint; |
5 when men are afraid of heights
and of dangers in the streets;
when the almond tree blossoms
and the grasshopper drags himself along
and desire no longer is stirred.
Then man goes to his eternal home
and mourners go about the streets. |
6 Remember him-before the silver cord is severed,
or the golden bowl is broken;
before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
or the wheel broken at the well, |
7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from,
and the spirit returns to God who gave it. |
8 "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher.1 12:8 Or the leader of the assembly ; also in verses 9 and 10
"Everything is meaningless!" |
9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. |
10 The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true. |
11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails-given by one Shepherd. |
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. |
13 Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man. |
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil. |
