1 A nd remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, of which thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no delight in them”;

2 b efore the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars, be darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;

before the sun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return 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 that look out of the windows are darkened,

in the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, and mighty men stoop, the grinding ones stand idle because they are few, and those who look through windows grow dim;

4 a nd the doors are shut toward the street; when the sound of the grinding is subdued, and they rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low;

and the doors on the street are shut as the sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the daughters of song will sing softly.

5 t hey are also afraid of what is high, and terrors are in the way, and the almond is despised, and the grasshopper is a burden, and the caper-berry is without effect; (for man goeth to his age-long home, and the mourners go about the streets;)

Furthermore, men are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags himself along, and the caperberry is ineffective. For man goes to his eternal home while mourners go about in the street.

6 — before the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be shattered at the fountain, or the wheel be broken at the cistern;

Remember Him before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed;

7 a nd the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit return 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.

“ Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “all is vanity!” Purpose of the Preacher

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

In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out and arranged many proverbs.

10 T he Preacher sought to find out acceptable words; and that which was written is upright, words of truth.

The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly.

11 T he words of the wise are as goads, and the collections as nails fastened in: they are given from one shepherd.

The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd.

12 A nd besides, my son, be warned by them: of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.

13 L et us hear the end of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole of man.

The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.

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

For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.