1Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before those days of advanced age come, when you shall say, “I find no pleasure in them”; 2Before the sun, or the light of the moon, or the stars, are dimmed, and the clouds return after the rain; 3When the guards of the house shall tremble, and the strong men are stooped, and your few remaining teeth no longer function well, and the view out of your windows is dimmed, 4When the doors to the streets are shut; when the sound of the mill grinding, the chirping of the bird, and all the daughters of music all become faint; 5Also when you shall be afraid of heights, and dangers in the streets, and your hair is white like an almond tree blossom, and even the grasshopper stops jumping, and all desire fails; because man goes to his long home (the grave), and the mourners weep at your funeral; 6Or before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the well; 7And the dust returns to the earth from which it came, and your life’s breath shall return to God, Who gave it. 8Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.

9Not only was the Preacher wise, he imparted knowledge to the people; yes, he pondered, studied, observed, and set in order many proverbs. 10The Preacher sought to find just the right words; and what he wrote was upright, and true. 11The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fastened, which are given from the one Shepherd. 12And further, be warned, my son: of writing many books there is no end; and much study wearies the body. 13Let us now hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. 14For God shall bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing, whether it is good, or evil.