1 R emember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you 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 W hile the sun and the light, The moon and the stars, Are not darkened, And the clouds do not 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 tremble, And the strong men bow down; When the grinders cease because they are few, And those that look through the windows grow dim;

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 W hen the doors are shut in the streets, And the sound of grinding is low; When one rises up at the sound of a bird, And all the daughters of music are 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 A lso they are afraid of height, And of terrors in the way; When the almond tree blossoms, The grasshopper is a burden, And desire fails. For man goes to his eternal 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 R emember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the well.

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 T hen the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to 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,” says the Preacher, “All is vanity.” The Whole Duty of Man

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

9 A nd moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, 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 acceptable words; and what was written was upright—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 like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by 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 further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to 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 L et us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.

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, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.

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