1 R emember also thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

Remember also your Maker while you are young, before the days of trouble come and the years when you will say, “I have no joy 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;

before the sun, the light, the moon and the stars are made dark, and clouds return after the rain.

3 i n the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows shall be darkened,

This will be the day when the men who watch the house shake in fear. Strong men bow. Those who grind will stop because they are few. And the eyes of those who look through windows will not see well.

4 a nd the doors shall be shut in the street; when the sound of the grinding is low, and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low;

The doors on the street will be shut when the sound of the grinding is no more. One will rise up at the sound of a bird. All the daughters of song will sing very low.

5 y ea, they shall be afraid of that which is high, and terrors shall be in the way; and the almond-tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goeth to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets:

Men will be afraid of a high place and of fears on the road. Flowers will grow on the almond tree. The grasshopper will pull himself along. And desire will be at an end. For man will go to his home that lasts forever, while people filled with sorrow go about in the street.

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

Remember Him before the silver rope of life is broken and the gold dish is crushed. Remember Him before the pot by the well is broken and the wheel by the water-hole is crushed.

7 a nd the dust returneth to the earth as it was, and the spirit returneth unto God who gave it.

Then the dust will return to the earth as it was. And the spirit will return to God Who gave it.

8 V anity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.

“It is of no use,” says the Preacher, “It is all for nothing!” The Preacher’s Last Words

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

Besides being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people much learning. He thought about, and looked for, and put together many wise sayings.

10 T he Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written uprightly, even words of truth.

The Preacher looked to find pleasing words and to write words of truth in the right way.

11 T he words of the wise are as goads; and as nails well fastened are the words of the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

The words of wise men are like a stick. Their gathered sayings are like well-driven nails given by one Shepherd.

12 A nd furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

But more than this, my son, be careful. There is no end to the writing of many books and reading many of them makes the body tired.

13 T his is the end of the matter; all hath been heard: fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.

The last word, after all has been heard, is: Honor God and obey His Laws. This is all that every person must do.

14 F or God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

For God will judge every act, even everything which is hidden, both good and bad.