1 Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, so that the evil days do not come, nor the years draw near, when you shall say, I have no pleasure in them.

2 While the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are 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 bow down, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look out of the windows are darkened,

4 and the doors are shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are silenced;

5 also they are afraid of the heights, and terrors along the way, and the almond tree blossoms, and the grasshopper is a burden, and desire fails; because man goes to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets;

6 or before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern;

7 then the dust shall return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return to God who gave it.

8 Vanity of vanities, says the preacher; all is vanity.

9 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 The preacher sought to learn acceptable words; written words of uprightness and truth.

11 The words of the wise are like goads, and as nails from the collection, fastened by the Master, given from one Shepherd.

12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: The making of many books has no end, and much study is a weariness to the flesh.

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is for every man.

14 For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.