1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of adversity come and the years arrive when you say, 'I find no pleasure in them.'

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

2 Before the sun, light, moon, and stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain.

While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:

3 On the day when those who watch over the house tremble, the strong men stoop, and the women who grind cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim.

In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,

4 The doors to the street are shut, the grinding fades, one rises at the chirp of a bird, and all the daughters of song are silenced.

And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;

5 They are also afraid of heights and dangers along the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, for the man is going to his eternal home, and mourners walk around in the streets.

Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:

6 Before the silver cord snaps, the golden bowl is broken, the jar is shattered at the spring, and the wheel is broken at the well.

Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.

7 And the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

8 'Utter futility,' says the Teacher. 'Everything is futile!'

Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

9 In addition to being wise, the Teacher continually taught the people knowledge; he carefully considered, explored, and arranged many proverbs.

And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

10 The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to write words of truth accurately.

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 like goads, and their collected sayings are like firmly embedded nails—given by one Shepherd.

The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

12 But beyond these, my son, be warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.

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 Now that all has been heard, here is the conclusion: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.

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 deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.