1 R emember 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 W hile the sun and the light, The moon and the stars, Are not darkened, And the clouds do not return after the rain;

3 I n 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 W hen 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 A lso 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 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.

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

9 A nd 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 sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright—words of truth.

11 T he words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd.

12 A nd further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh.

13 L et 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 bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.