¹Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth,

before the evil days come , and the years draw near ,

when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them ;”

²Before the sun , the light, the moon , and the stars are darkened ,

and 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 who look out of the windows are darkened ,

⁴and the doors shall be shut in the street ;

when the sound of the grinding is low ,

and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird ,

and all the daughters of music shall be brought low ;

⁵yes , they shall be afraid of heights,

and terrors will be on the way ;

and the almond tree shall blossom,

and the grasshopper shall be a burden ,

and desire shall fail ;

because man goes to his everlasting home ,

and the mourners go about the streets ;

⁶before the silver cord is severed,

or the golden bowl is broken ,

or the pitcher is broken at the spring,

or the wheel broken at the cistern,

⁷and the dust returns to the earth as it was ,

and the spirit returns to God who gave it .

⁸“Vanity of vanities ,” says the Preacher .

“All is vanity !”

⁹Further , because the Preacher was wise , he still taught the people knowledge . Yes, he pondered , sought out , and set in order many proverbs .

¹⁰The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words , and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth.

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

¹²Furthermore, my son , be admonished : of making many books there is no end ; and much study is a weariness of the flesh .

¹³This is the end of the matter . All has been heard . Fear God and keep his commandments ; for this is the whole duty of man .

¹⁴For God will bring every work into judgement, with every hidden thing , whether it is good , or whether it is evil .