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;
02 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or
the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return
after the rain:
03 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,
04 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 music shall be brought low;
05 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:
06 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.
07 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it
was: and the spirit shall return unto God who
gave it.
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08 Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is
vanity.
09 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 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 shall bring every work into judgment,
with every secret thing, whether it be good, or
whether it be evil.
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