¹ Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw near, when you will say, I have no pleasure in them; ² While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain ³ In the day when the keepers of the house will tremble, and the strong men will bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, ⁴ And the doors will be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he will rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick will be brought low; ⁵ Also when they will be afraid of that which is high, and fears will be in the way, and the almond tree will flourish, and the grasshopper will be a burden, and desire will fail: because man goes to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets ⁶ Or ever the silver cord be released , or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. ⁷ Then will the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit will return to God who gave it. ⁸ Vanity of vanities, says the preacher; all is vanity. ⁹ And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he gave good care, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. ¹⁰ The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. ¹¹ The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. ¹² And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. ¹³ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. ¹⁴ For God will bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.