1 ¶ Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth while the evil days do not come nor the years draw near 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 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 a nd the doors outside shall be shut because the voice of the grinder is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird and all the daughters of song shall be humbled;

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 w hen they shall also be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and appetite shall fail: because man goes to the home of his age, and the mourners shall 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 chain is broken, and the golden bowl is broken, and the pitcher is broken at the fountain, and the wheel is 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 returns to the earth as it was before and the spirit returns 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 ¶ Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

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

9 A nd the wiser the preacher became that much more did he teach wisdom to the people, causing them to listen and to search things out, and he composed 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 willing words and upright writings, 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 hammered into place, those of the teachers of the congregations, who are placed under one Shepherd.

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

12 M y son, in addition to this, 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 ¶ The conclusion of the entire sermon is heard: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole happiness 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 shall bring every work to judgment with every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil.

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