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Remember God in Your Youth

^1 (C1)Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the ^(C2)evil days come and the years approach when you will say, "I have no pleasure in them";² before the ^(C1)sun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain;³ on the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, and strong men are ^(C1)bent over, the grinders stop working because they are few, and ^(C2)those who look through ^(F1)windows grow ^(F2)dim;⁴ and the doors on the street are shut as the ^(C1)sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the ^(C2)daughters of song will ^(F1)sing softly.⁵ Furthermore, people are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caper berry is ineffective. For man goes to his eternal ^(C1)home while the ^(C2)mourners move around in the street.⁶ Remember your Creator before the silver cord is ^(F1)broken and the ^(C1)golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the spring is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed;⁷ then the ^(C1)dust will return to the earth as it was, and the ^(F1)(C2)spirit will return to ^(C3)God who gave it.⁸ "^(C1)Futility of futilities," says the Preacher, "all is futility!"

Purpose of the Preacher

⁹ In addition to being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out, and arranged ^(C1)many proverbs.¹⁰ The Preacher sought to find ^(C1)delightful words and to write ^(C2)words of truth correctly.

¹¹ The ^(C1)words of the wise are like ^(F1)(C2)goads, and masters of these collections are like driven ^(C3)nails; they are given by one Shepherd.¹² But beyond this, my son, be warned: the ^(F1)writing of ^(C1)many books is endless, and excessive ^(C2)study is ^(F2)wearying to the body.

¹³ The conclusion, when everything has been heard, is: ^(C1)fear God and ^(C2)keep His commandments, because this applies to ^(C3)every person.¹⁴ For ^(C1)God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.