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 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, be 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 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,

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 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;

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 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;)

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 — 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 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 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.

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

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.

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 is upright, 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 the collections as nails fastened in: they 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 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 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 L et us hear the end of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole 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 shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret 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.