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 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”:

2 b efore the sun, the light, the moon and the stars are made dark, and clouds return after the rain.

While the sun and the light, The moon and the stars, Are not darkened, And the clouds do not 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 tremble, And the strong men bow down; When the grinders cease because they are few, And those that look through the windows grow dim;

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.

When 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.

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.

Also 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.

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.

Remember 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.

7 T hen the dust will return to the earth as it was. And the spirit will return to 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 “ It is of no use,” says the Preacher, “It is all for nothing!” The Preacher’s Last Words

“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “All is vanity.” The Whole Duty of Man

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 moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order 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 acceptable words; and what was written was upright—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 like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by 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.

And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to 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.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.

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

For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.