^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.