12:1 So remember 1 your Creator in the days of your youth –
before 2 the difficult 3 days come,
and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;
12:2 before the sun and the light 4 of the moon and the stars grow dark,
and the clouds disappear 5 after the rain;
12:3 when those who keep watch over the house 6 begin to tremble, 7
and the virile men begin to stoop over, 8
and the grinders 9 begin to cease because they grow few,
and those who look through the windows grow dim, 10
12:4 and the doors along the street are shut;
when the sound of the grinding mill 11 grows low,
and one is awakened 12 by the sound of a bird,
and all their 13 songs 14 grow faint, 15
12:5 and they are afraid of heights and the dangers 16 in the street;
the almond blossoms 17 grow white, 18
and the grasshopper 19 drags itself along, 20
and the caper berry 21 shrivels up 22 –
because man goes to his eternal home, 23
and the mourners go about in the streets –
12:6 before the silver cord is removed,
or the golden bowl is broken,
or the pitcher is shattered at the well, 24
or the water wheel 25 is broken at the cistern –
12:7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was,
and the life’s breath 26 returns to God who gave it.
12:8 “Absolutely futile!” 27 laments the Teacher, 28
“All of these things 29 are futile!” 30
12:9 Not only was the Teacher wise, 31
but he also taught knowledge to the people;
he carefully evaluated 32 and arranged 33 many proverbs.
12:10 The Teacher sought to find delightful 34 words,
and to write 35 accurately truthful sayings. 36
12:11 The words of the sages are like prods, 37
and the collected sayings are like firmly fixed nails;
they are given by one shepherd.
12:12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. 38
There is no end to the making 39 of many books,
and much study is exhausting to the body. 40
12:13 Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion: 41
Fear God and keep his commandments,
because this is the whole duty 42 of man.
12:14 For God will evaluate every deed, 43
including every secret thing, whether good or evil.