1 R emember 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”;

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come or the years draw near when you will say, I have no enjoyment in them—

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

Before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;

3 i n 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;

In 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 who look out of the windows are darkened;

4 a nd 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.

When the doors are shut in the streets and the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the voice of a bird and the crowing of a cock, and all the daughters of music are brought low;

5 F urthermore, 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.

Also when are afraid of danger from that which is high, and fears are in the way, and the almond tree blooms, and the grasshopper is a burden, and desire and appetite fail, because man goes to his everlasting home and the mourners go about the streets or marketplaces.

6 R emember 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;

before the silver cord is snapped apart, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern;

7 t hen the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return to God Who gave it.

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

Vapor of vapors and futility of futilities, says the Preacher. All is futility (emptiness, falsity, vainglory, and transitoriness)!

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

And furthermore, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; and he pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.

10 T he Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly.

The Preacher sought acceptable words, even to write down rightly words of truth or correct sentiment.

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

The words of the wise are like prodding goads, and firmly fixed like nails are the collected sayings which are given from one Shepherd.

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

But about going further, my son, be warned. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

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

All has been heard; the end of the matter is: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man and the whole for every man.

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

For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it is good or evil.