12:1
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,
before the days of affliction come upon you, and the years draw nigh
of which you say, “There is no more pleasure in life.”
12:2
Rejoice while the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars
are not darkened, and the clouds do not return after rain.
12:3
Remember him also in the day when the keepers of the house tremble
and strong men bow themselves, when the grinders cease because
they are so few, when those who look out of windows see only darkness,
12:4
when the doors are shut in the streets, when the sound of grinding
is a whisper, when you listen for the voice of birds,
but these daughters of song have been brought low.
12:5
You shall be afraid of heights, and fear shall mark your all ways.
The almond tree shall flower white upon your head, your grasshopper
shall drag its feet, and even the caper berry cannot arouse its desire.
For you are going to your long home, and mourners shall walk the streets.
12:6
Yea, remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed,
before the golden bowl is broken, before the pitcher
is shattered at the fountain, before the pulley is broken at the well.
12:7
For then your dust shall return to the earth from which it came,
and your spirit shall return unto God.
12:8
“Vanity of vanities,” saith the Preacher. “All is vanity.”
12:9
Because the Preacher was wise, he continually gave people knowledge.
He taught with wisdom and integrity, and composed many proverbs.
12:10
The Preacher sought diligently to find the right words to teach
uprightness and truth.
12:11
The words of the wise are like sharp goads guiding sheep.
Their sayings are as secure as nails driven home by master craftsmen.
And they all come from the One Shepherd.
12:12
Beware, my son, of anything beyond this wisdom.
There is no end of books, and much study wearies the flesh.
12:13
Let us hear then the conclusion of the whole matter:
“Revere God and keep his commandments. This is the whole duty of man.”
12:14
For God shall bring your every work into judgment – every secret thing –
whether it be good, or whether it be evil.