1 Remembernow your Creator in the days of your youth,
Before the difficult days come,
# And the years draw nearwhen 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 allthe 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 tohis eternal home,
# Andthe mourners go about the streets.
6 RememberyourCreatorbefore 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 Godwho gave it.
8 “Vanityof vanities,” says the Preacher,
“Allisvanity.”
The Whole Duty of Man
9 And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought outandset in order many proverbs.
10 The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; andwhatwaswrittenwasupright—words 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 booksthereisno end, andmuch studyiswearisome to the flesh.
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
# Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man’s all.
14 ForGod will bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret thing,
Whether good or evil.