Ecclesiastes 12

1Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

2While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:

3In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,footnote a

4And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;

5Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:

6Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.

7Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

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

9And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.footnote b

10The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.footnote c

11The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

12And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.footnote d

13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.footnote e

14For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Remember Your Creator

1Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,before the days of adversity comeand the years approach of which you will say,“I find no pleasure in them,” 2before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened,and the clouds return after the rain, 3on the day the keepers of the house trembleand the strong men stoop,when those grinding cease because they are fewand those watching through windows see dimly, 4when the doors to the street are shutand the sound of the mill fades away,when one rises at the sound of a birdand all the daughters of song grow faint, 5when men fear the heights and dangers of the road,when the almond tree blossoms,the grasshopper loses its spring,and the caper berry shrivels—for then man goes to his eternal homeand mourners walk the streets.

6Remember Him before the silver cord is snappedand the golden bowl is crushed,before the pitcher is shattered at the springand the wheel is broken at the well, 7before the dust returns to the ground from which it cameand the spirit returns to God who gave it.

8“Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher.“Everything is futile!”

The Whole Duty of Man

9Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs. 10The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.footnote a

11The words of the wise are like goads, and the anthologies of the masters are like firmly embedded nails driven by a single Shepherd.footnote b 12And by these, my son, be further warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.

13When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man. 14For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.