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¹ Remember 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 While the sun and the light, The moon and the stars, Are not darkened, And the clouds do not return after the rain; ³ In 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 When 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 Also 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 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, [fn] Or the golden bowl is broken,Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain,Or the wheel broken at the well. ⁷ Then 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." ⁹ And 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 The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright--words of truth.¹¹ The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars [fn] are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. ¹² And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh.

¹³ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. ¹⁴ For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.