1 R emember 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,”

¶ 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;

2 b efore the sun, the light, the moon and the stars are made dark, 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 T his 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.

In 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;

4 T he 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.

and 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;

5 M en 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.

when 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;

6 R emember 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.

before 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;

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 returns to the earth as it was before and the spirit returns unto God who gave it.

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

¶ Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

9 B esides being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people much learning. He thought about, and looked for, and put together many wise sayings.

And 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.

10 T he Preacher looked to find pleasing words and to write words of truth in the right way.

The preacher sought to find willing words and upright writings, even words of truth.

11 T he words of wise men are like a stick. Their gathered sayings are like well-driven nails given by one Shepherd.

The 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.

12 B ut 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.

My son, in addition to this, be admonished: of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

13 T he last word, after all has been heard, is: Honor God and obey His Laws. This is all that every person must do.

¶ The conclusion of the entire sermon is heard: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole happiness of man.

14 F or God will judge every act, even everything which is hidden, both good and bad.

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