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 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 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,

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 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;

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 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:

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 loosed, 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 a nd the dust returneth to the earth as it was, and the spirit returneth unto 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 anity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.

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

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.

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 to find out acceptable words, and that which was written uprightly, even words of truth.

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

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.

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

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

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

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