1 R emember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come or the years draw near when you will say, I have no enjoyment in them—

Remember 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.'

2 B efore the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;

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

3 I n the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look out of the windows are darkened;

In 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,

4 W hen the doors are shut in the streets and the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the voice of a bird and the crowing of a cock, and all the daughters of music are brought low;

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

5 A lso when are afraid of danger from that which is high, and fears are in the way, and the almond tree blooms, and the grasshopper is a burden, and desire and appetite fail, because man goes to his everlasting home and the mourners go about the streets or marketplaces.

Also 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.

6 b efore the silver cord is snapped apart, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern;

While 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.

7 T hen shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return to God Who gave it.

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

8 V apor of vapors and futility of futilities, says the Preacher. All is futility (emptiness, falsity, vainglory, and transitoriness)!

Vanity of vanities, said the preacher, the whole vanity.

9 A nd furthermore, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; and he pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.

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

10 T he Preacher sought acceptable words, even to write down rightly words of truth or correct sentiment.

The preacher sought to find out pleasing words, and, written the upright, words of truth.

11 T he words of the wise are like prodding goads, and firmly fixed like nails are the collected sayings which are given from one Shepherd.

Words of the wise as goads, and as fences planted the masters of collections, they have been given by one shepherd.

12 B ut about going further, my son, be warned. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

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

13 A ll has been heard; the end of the matter is: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man and the whole for every man.

The end of the whole matter let us hear: -- `Fear God, and keep His commands, for this the whole of man.

14 F or God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it is good or evil.

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