Remember Your Creator in Your Youth

1And remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the days of evil come, and the years overtake thee in which thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. 2While the sun and light are not darkened, nor the moon and the stars; nor the clouds return after the rain: 3in the day wherein the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the mighty men shall become bent, and the grinding women cease because they have become few, and the women looking out at the windows be dark; 4and they shall shut the doors in the market-place, because of the weakness of the voice of her that grinds at the mill; and he shall rise up at the voice of the sparrow, and all the daughters of song shall be brought low; 5and they shall look up, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall blossom, and the locust shall increase, and the caper shall be scattered: because man has gone to his eternal home, and the mourners have gone about the market: 6before the silver cord be let go, or the choice gold be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel run down to the cistern; 7before the dust also return to the earth as it was, and the spirit return to God who gave it. 8Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher; all is vanity.

The Fear of God is Utmost

9And because the Preacher was wise above others, so it was that he taught man excellent knowledge, and the ear will trace out the parables. 10The Preacher sought diligently to find out acceptable words, and a correct writing, even words of truth.

11The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails firmly fastened, which have been given from one shepherd by agreement. 12And moreover, my son, guard thyself by means of them: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

13Hear the end of the matter, the sun: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole man. 14For God will bring every work into judgment, with everything that has been overlooked, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.