1Remember[H2142] now thy Creator[H1254] in the days[H3117] of thy youth[H979], while the evil[H7451]days[H3117]come[H935] not, nor the years[H8141] draw nigh[H5060], when thou shalt say[H559], I have no pleasure[H2656] in them;
2
While the sun[H8121], or the light[H216], or the moon[H3394], or the stars[H3556], be not darkened[H2821], nor the clouds[H5645]return[H7725]after[H310] the rain[H1653]:
3
In the day[H3117] when the keepers[H8104] of the house[H1004] shall tremble[H2111], and the strong[H2428]men[H582] shall bow[H5791] themselves, and the grinders[H2912]cease[H988] because they are few[H4591], and those that look out[H7200] of the windows[H699] be darkened[H2821],
4
And the doors[H1817] shall be shut[H5462] in the streets[H7784], when the sound[H6963] of the grinding[H2913] is low[H8217], and he shall rise up[H6965] at the voice[H6963] of the bird[H6833], and all the daughters[H1323] of musick[H7892] shall be brought low[H7817];
5
Also when they shall be afraid[H3372] of that which is high[H1364], and fears[H2849] shall be in the way[H1870], and the almond tree[H8247] shall flourish[H5006], and the grasshopper[H2284] shall be a burden[H5445], and desire[H35] shall fail[H6565]: because man[H120]goeth[H1980] to his long[H5769]home[H1004], and the mourners[H5594] go about[H5437] the streets[H7784]:
6
Or ever[H3808] the silver[H3701]cord[H2256] be loosed[H7576], or the golden[H2091]bowl[H1543] be broken[H7533], or the pitcher[H3537] be broken[H7665] at the fountain[H4002], or the wheel[H1534]broken[H7665] at the cistern[H953].
7
Then shall the dust[H6083]return[H7725] to the earth[H776] as it was: and the spirit[H7307] shall return[H7725] unto God[H430] who gave[H5414] it.
8Vanity[H1892] of vanities[H1892], saith[H559] the preacher[H6953]; all is vanity[H1892].
9
And moreover[H3148], because the preacher[H6953] was wise[H2450], he still taught[H3925] the people[H5971]knowledge[H1847]; yea, he gave good heed[H239], and sought out[H2713], and set in order[H8626]many[H7235]proverbs[H4912].
10
The preacher[H6953]sought[H1245] to find out[H4672]acceptable[H2656]words[H1697]: and that which was written[H3789] was upright[H3476], even words[H1697] of truth[H571].
11
The words[H1697] of the wise[H2450] are as goads[H1861], and as nails[H4930]fastened[H5193] by the masters[H1167] of assemblies[H627], which are given[H5414] from one[H259]shepherd[H7462].
12
And further[H3148], by these[H1992], my son[H1121], be admonished[H2094]: of making[H6213]many[H7235]books[H5612] there is no end[H7093]; and much[H7235]study[H3854] is a weariness[H3024] of the flesh[H1320].
13
Let us hear[H8085] the conclusion[H5490] of the whole matter[H1697]: Fear[H3372]God[H430], and keep[H8104] his commandments[H4687]: for this is the whole duty of man[H120].
14
For God[H430] shall bring[H935] every work[H4639] into judgment[H4941], with every secret thing[H5956], whether it be good[H2896], or whether it be evil[H7451].