Ecclesiastes 12 - Modern English Version

¹ Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come and the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in these days and years”;

² before the sun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and the clouds leave after the rain;

³ in the day when those watching the house tremble, and the strong men are bent over, and the grinding teeth cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows have dimmed eyes;

⁴ and the doors on the street are shut, and the sound of grinding teeth is less; and awakened, one gets up at the sound of a bird, and the melodious songs are faint from diminished hearing;

⁵ when they fear heights, even the terrors along the road; the almond tree blossoms white, and the grasshopper is burdened down, and the aphrodisiac caper-berry plant fails, because a person is going to his eternal home, and the mourners are throughout the streets;

⁶ before the silver cord is snapped, and the golden bowl is smashed, and the jar by the spring is broken and the wheel at the cistern is crushed,

⁷ and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the life breath returns to God who gave it.

⁸ “Vanity of vanities,” says the Teacher, “everything is vanity!”

The Conclusion of the Matter

⁹ In addition to being wise, the Teacher still taught the people knowledge, by weighing, studying, and arranging many proverbs.

¹⁰ Qoheleth sought to find pleasing words, and to write words of truth plainly.

¹¹ The words of the wise are like iron-tipped goads, and like well-driven nails are the collected sayings that are given by one shepherd.

¹² Beyond these, my son, be warned. There is no end of making many books, and much study is a weariness of the body.

¹³ This is the end of the matter; all has been heard. Now fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.

¹⁴ For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.