Ecclesiastes 12

Remember God in Your Youth

11Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the 2evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no delight in them”; 2before the 3sun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain; 3in the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, and mighty men 4stoop, the grinding ones stand idle because they are few, and 5those who look through 6windows grow dim; 4and the doors on the street are shut as the 7sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the 8daughters of song will 9sing softly. 5Furthermore, 10men are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags himself along, and the caperberry is ineffective. For man goes to his eternal 11home while 12mourners go about in the street. 6Remember Him before the silver cord is 13broken and the 14golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; 7then the 15dust will return to the earth as it was, and the 1617spirit will return to 18God who gave it. 8“19Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “all is vanity!”

Purpose of the Preacher

9In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out and arranged 20many proverbs. 10The Preacher sought to find 21delightful words and to write 22words of truth correctly.

11The 23words of wise men are like 24goads, and masters of these collections are like 25well-driven 26nails; they are given by one Shepherd. 12But beyond this, my son, be warned: the 27writing of 28many books is endless, and excessive 29devotion to books is wearying to the body.

13The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: 30fear God and 31keep His commandments, because this applies to 32every person. 14For 33God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.