Ecclesiastes 12

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;

1Remember God, who made you, while you are still young. Do this before the hard days come. Do it before the years when you say, "I get no joy from these years."

2While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:

2Remember him before the sun and the light grow dark. Remember before the moon and the stars grow dark too. Remember before the clouds come back after the rain.

3In 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,

3That is the day when the guards of the house shake. The strong men bend over. The women grinding grain stop, because only a few are left. Those looking out the windows cannot see well anymore.

4And 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;

4The doors out to the street are shut. The sound of the grinding mill grows soft. A person wakes up at the sound of a bird. All the sounds of singing grow weak.

5Also 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:

5People grow afraid of high places. They are afraid of dangers along the road. The almond tree blooms with white flowers. The grasshopper drags itself along. The wish for things fades away. For a person goes to his home that lasts forever. And people who are sad walk in the streets.

Note"His long home" means the grave, the place where a dead person stays.

6Or 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.

6Remember God before the silver cord snaps. Remember before the golden bowl is crushed. Remember before the water jar breaks at the spring. Remember before the wheel at the well is broken.

7Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

7Then the dust goes back to the ground it came from. And the spirit goes back to God, who gave it.

8Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

8"Empty, so empty," says the Teacher. "Everything is empty."

NoteIn 1611 English, "vanity" did not mean being proud. It meant empty, or gone as quickly as a breath. "The preacher" here means a teacher.

9And 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.

9The Teacher was wise. He also taught people what he knew. He thought hard, searched things out, and put many wise sayings in order.

10The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.

10The Teacher looked for just the right words to say. What he wrote down was honest. His words were true.

11The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

11The words of wise people are like goads, sharp sticks that keep animals moving. Their collected sayings are like nails hammered in tight. All of them come from one shepherd.

12And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

12My son, let these words warn you. People keep making more and more books, and it never stops. And too much studying makes your body tired.

13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

13Now everything has been heard. Here is the end of the matter. Honor God with deep respect, and do what he tells you. This is what every person is meant to do.

Note"Fear God" does not mean being scared of God. It means treating him with deep respect and honor.

14For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

14God will judge everything a person does. He will judge every hidden thing too. He will judge what is good and what is bad.