^aRemember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the ^bevil days come and the years approach when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the ^asun 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 ^abent over, the grinders stop working because they are few, and ^bthose who look through ¹windows grow ²dim; 4 and the doors on the street are shut as the ^asound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the ^bdaughters of song will ¹sing 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 ^ahome while the ^bmourners move around in the street. 6 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is ¹broken and the ^agolden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the spring is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; 7 then the ^adust will return to the earth as it was, and the ^1bspirit will return to ^cGod who gave it. 8 “^aFutility of futilities,” says the Preacher, “all is futility!”

9 In addition to being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out, and arranged ^amany proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find ^adelightful words and to write ^bwords of truth correctly.

11 The ^awords of the wise are like ^1bgoads, and masters of these collections are like driven ^cnails; they are given by one Shepherd. 12 But beyond this, my son, be warned: the ¹writing of ^amany books is endless, and excessive ^bstudy is ²wearying to the body.

13 The conclusion, when everything has been heard, is: ^afear God and ^bkeep His commandments, because this applies to ^cevery person. 14 For ^aGod will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

^aRemember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the ^bevil days come and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no delight in them”; 2 before the ^asun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain; 3 in the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, and mighty men ^astoop, the grinding ones stand idle because they are few, and ^bthose who look through ¹windows grow dim; 4 and the doors on the street are shut as the ^asound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the ^bdaughters of song will ¹sing softly. 5 Furthermore, ¹men are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags himself along, and the caperberry is ineffective. For man goes to his eternal ^ahome while ^bmourners go about in the street. 6 Remember Him before the silver cord is ¹broken and the ^agolden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; 7 then the ^adust will return to the earth as it was, and the ^1bspirit will return to ^cGod who gave it. 8 “^aVanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “all is vanity!”

9 In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out and arranged ^amany proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find ^adelightful words and to write ^bwords of truth correctly.

11 The ^awords of wise men are like ^bgoads, and masters of these collections are like ¹well-driven ^cnails; they are given by one Shepherd. 12 But beyond this, my son, be warned: the ¹writing of ^amany books is endless, and excessive ^bdevotion to books is wearying to the body.

13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: ^afear God and ^bkeep His commandments, because this applies to ^cevery person. 14 For ^aGod will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

^aRemember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the ^bevil days happen and the years draw near in which you will say, “I have no delight in them”; 2 before the ^asun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain; 3 in the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, and valiant men ^abend down, the grinding ones stand idle because they are few, and ^bthose who look through ¹windows grow dark; 4 and the doors on the street are shut as the ^asound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the ^bdaughters of song will ¹sing softly. 5 Furthermore, ¹men are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road; the almond tree blooms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caperberry is ineffective. For man goes to his eternal ^ahome, but the ^bmourners go about in the street. 6 Remember Him before the silver ¹cord is ²snapped and the ^agolden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the spring is broken and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; 7 then the ^adust will return to the earth as it was, and the ^1bspirit will return to ^cGod who gave it. 8 “^aVanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “all is vanity!”

9 In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out, and ¹arranged ^amany proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find ^adelightful words and ^bwords of truth written uprightly.

11 The ^awords of wise men are like ^bgoads, and masters of these collections are like ¹well-driven ^cnails; they are given by one Shepherd. 12 But in addition to this, my son, be warned: the making of ^amany books is endless, and much ^bdevotion to books is wearying to the flesh.

13 The end of the matter, all that has been heard: ^afear God and ^bkeep His commandments, because this is the end of the matter for ^call mankind. 14 For ^aGod will bring every work to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

^aRemember thoughtfully also your Creator in the days of your youth for you are not your own, but His, before the ^bevil days come or the years draw near when you will say of physical pleasures, “I have no enjoyment and delight in them”; 2+@Sam 19:35 2 before the ^asun and the light, and the moon and the stars are darkened by impaired vision, and the clouds of depression return after the rain of tears; 3 in the day when the keepers of the house (hands, arms) tremble, and the strong men (feet, knees) ^abow themselves, and the grinders (molar teeth) cease because they are few, and ^bthose (eyes) who look through the windows grow dim; 4 when the doors (lips) are shut in the streets and the ^asound of the grinding of the teeth is low, and one rises at the sound of a bird and the crowing of a rooster, and all the ^bdaughters of music (voice, ears) sing softly. 5 Furthermore, they are afraid of a high place and of dangers on the road; the almond tree (hair) blossoms white, and the grasshopper (a little thing) is a burden, and the ¹caperberry (desire, appetite) fails. For man goes to his eternal ^ahome and the ^bmourners go about the streets and market places. Job 17:13 6 Earnestly remember your Creator before the silver cord of life is broken, or the ^agolden bowl is crushed, or the pitcher at the fountain is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; 7 then the ^adust out of which God made man’s body will return to the earth as it was, and the ^bspirit will return to ^cGod who gave it. 8 “^aVanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All that is done without God’s guidance is vanity (futility) .” Eccl 1:2; Rom 8:20

9 Furthermore, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; and he pondered and searched out and arranged ^amany proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find ^adelightful words, even to write correctly ^bwords of truth.

11 The ^awords of the wise are like prodding ^bgoads, and these collected sayings are firmly fixed in the mind like well-driven ^cnails; ¹they are given by one Shepherd. Ezek 37:24 12 But beyond this my son, about going further than the words given by one Shepherd, be warned: the writing of ^amany books is endless so do not believe everything you read, and excessive ^bstudy and devotion to books is wearying to the body.

13 When all has been heard, the end of the matter is: ^afear God worship Him with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is almighty God and ^bkeep His commandments, for this applies to ^cevery person. 14 For ^aGod will bring every act to judgment, every hidden and secret thing, whether it is good or evil. Matt 12:36; Acts 17:30, 31; Rom 2:16; 1+@Cor 4:5