Ecclesiastes 12

1Let your mind be turned to your Maker in the days of your strength, while the evil days come not, and the years are far away when you will say, I have no pleasure in them;

1Remember also thy Creators in days of thy youth, While that the evil days come not, Nor the years have arrived, that thou sayest, `I have no pleasure in them.'

1Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the time of affliction come, and the years draw nigh of which thou shalt say: They please me not:

2While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, are not dark, and the clouds come not back after the rain;

2While that the sun is not darkened, and the light, And the moon, and the stars, And the thick clouds returned after the rain.

2Before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars be darkened, and the clouds return after the rain:

3In the day when the keepers of the house are shaking for fear, and the strong men are bent down, and the women who were crushing the grain are at rest because their number is small, and those looking out of the windows are unable to see;

3In the day that keepers of the house tremble, And men of strength have bowed themselves, And grinders have ceased, because they have become few. And those looking out at the windows have become dim,

3When the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall stagger, and the grinders shall be idle in a small number, and they that look through the holes shall be darkened:

4When the doors are shut in the street, and the sound of the crushing is low, and the voice of the bird is soft, and the daughters of music will be made low;

4And doors have been shut in the street. When the noise of the grinding is low, And <FI>one<Fi> riseth at the voice of the bird, And all daughters of song are bowed down.

4And they shall shut the doors in the street, when the grinder's voice shall be low, and they shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall grow deaf.

5And he is in fear of that which is high, and danger is in the road, and the tree is white with flower, and the least thing is a weight, and desire is at an end, because man goes to his last resting-place, and those who are sorrowing are in the streets;

5Also of that which is high they are afraid, And of the low places in the way, And the almond-tree is despised, And the grasshopper is become a burden, And want is increased, For man is going unto his home age-during, And the mourners have gone round through the street.

5And they shall fear high things, and they shall be afraid in the way, the almond tree shall flourish, the locust shall be made fat, and the caper tree shall be destroyed: because man shall go into the house of his eternity, and the mourners shall go round about in the street.

6Before ever the silver cord is cut, or the vessel of gold is broken, or the pot is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the water-hole;

6While that the silver cord is not removed, And the golden bowl broken, And the pitcher broken by the fountain, And the wheel broken at the well.

6Before the silver cord be broken, and the golden fillet shrink back, and the pitcher be crushed at the fountain, and the wheel be broken upon the cistern,

7And the dust goes back to the earth as it was, and the spirit goes back to God who gave it.

7And the dust returneth to the earth as it was, And the spirit returneth to God who gave it.

7And the dust return into its earth, from whence it was, and the spirit return to God, who gave it.

8All things are to no purpose, says the Preacher, all is to no purpose.

8Vanity of vanities, said the preacher, the whole <FI>is<Fi> vanity.

8Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, and all things are vanity.

9And because the Preacher was wise he still gave the people knowledge; searching out, testing, and putting in order a great number of wise sayings.

9And further, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge, and gave ear, and sought out--he made right many similes.

9And whereas Ecclesiastes was very wise, he taught the people, and declared the things that he had done: and seeking out, he set forth many parables.

10The Preacher made search for words which were pleasing, but his writing was in words upright and true.

10The preacher sought to find out pleasing words, and, written <FI>by<Fi> the upright, words of truth.

10He sought profitable words, and wrote words most right, and full of truth.

11The words of the wise are pointed, and sayings grouped together are like nails fixed with a hammer; they are given by one guide.

11Words of the wise <FI>are<Fi> as goads, and as fences planted <FI>by<Fi> the masters of collections, they have been given by one shepherd.

11The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails deeply fastened in, which by the counsel of masters are given from one shepherd.

12And further, my son, take note of this: of the making of books there is no end, and much learning is a weariness to the flesh.

12And further, from these, my son, be warned; the making of many books hath no end, and much study <FI>is<Fi> a weariness of the flesh.

12More than these, my son, require not. Of making many books there is no end: and much study is an affliction of the flesh.

13This is the last word. All has been said. Have fear of God and keep his laws; because this is right for every man.

13The end of the whole matter let us hear: --`Fear God, and keep His commands, for this <FI>is<Fi> the whole of man.

13Let us all hear together the conclusion of the discourse. Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is all man:

14God will be judge of every work, with every secret thing, good or evil.

14For every work doth God bring into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether good or bad.'

14And all things that are done, God will bring into judgment for every error, whether it be good or evil.