Ecclesiastes 12
1. Remember * 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;
2. While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened * , nor the clouds return * after the rain:
3. In 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 * ,
4. And 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 * ;
5. Also 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:
6. Or 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.
7. Then shall the dust return * to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return * unto God who gave * it.
8. Vanity of vanities, saith * the preacher; all is vanity.
9. And 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.
10. The preacher sought * to find out * acceptable words: and that which was written * was upright, even words of truth.
11. The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened * by the masters of assemblies, which are given * from one shepherd * .
12. And further, by these, my son, be admonished * : of making * many * books there is no end; and much * study is a weariness of the flesh.
13. Let us hear * the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear * God, and keep * his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14. For God shall bring * every work into judgment, with every secret thing * , whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
