12 Remember now thy Creator
in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years
draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; 2 While the sun, or the light, or the
moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: 3 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
be darkened, 4 And the doors shall be shut in the
streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at
the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought
low; 5 Also when they shall 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 desire shall fail:
because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:
6
Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the
pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 7 Then
shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return
unto God who gave it. 8 Vanity
of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity. 9 And
moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge;
yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. 10 The
preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written
was upright, even words of truth. 11 The
words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of
assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. 12 And
further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is
no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. 13 Let
us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments:
for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For
God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether
it be good, or whether it be evil.