Ecc 12 | ASV | e4.org | Remember also thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

‏ Ecclesiastes 12

1 Remember also thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; 2 before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars, are darkened, and 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 ^▼▼1 grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows shall be darkened, ^{▼▼1) Or grinding women} 4 and the doors shall be shut in the street; when the sound of the grinding is low, and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low; 5 yea, they shall be afraid ^▼▼1 of that which is high, and terrors shall be in the way; and the almond-tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper ^▼▼2 shall be a burden, and ^▼▼3 desire shall ^▼▼4 fail; because man goeth to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets: ^{▼▼1) Or, of danger from on high 2) Or shall drag itself along 3) Or the caperberry 4) Or burst} 6 before the silver cord is ^▼▼1 loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, ^{▼▼1) Or snapped asunder} 7 and the dust returneth to the earth as it was, and the spirit returneth unto God who gave it.

8 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity. 9 And further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he ^▼▼1 pondered, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. ^{▼▼1) Or gave ear} 10 The Preacher sought to find out ^▼▼1 acceptable words, and that which was written uprightly, even words of truth. ^{▼▼1) Heb words of delight} 11 The words of the wise are as goads; and as nails well fastened are the words of the ^▼▼1 masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. ^{▼▼1) Or collectors of sentences} 12 ^▼▼1 And furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. ^{▼▼1) Or And as for more than these, my son, be warned}

13 ^▼▼1 This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard: fear God, and keep his commandments; for ^▼▼2 this is the whole duty of man. ^{▼▼1) Or Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter 2) Or this is the duty of all men} 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, ^▼▼1 with every hidden thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. ^{▼▼1) Or concerning}