|
[1]REMEMBERnow your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw nigh when you shall say, I have no pleasure in them;
[2]Beforelife ebbs, beauty fades, fortune fails, and poverty returns after prosperity;
[3]Inthe day when the legs tremble and the arms weaken, and the teeth chew no more because they are few, and the eyes are dimmed,
[4]Andthe ears shall be so dulled that the sound of women grinding at the mill is low, and a man shall rise up at the song of birds; and the sound of women singing shall be low;
[5]Heshall be afraid of that which is high, and shall tremble in his ways, and sleeplessness shall come upon him; the almond tree shall blossom, and the locust shall be multiplied, and fragrance shall scatter, and trouble shall cease; because man goes to the house of his reward and the mourners walk about the streets.
[6]Rememberhim before the silver cord is cut off and the golden bowl is broken and the pitcher is broken at the fountain or the wheel is broken at the cistern,
[7]Thenthe dust shall return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return to God who gave it
[8]Vanityof vanities, says the Preacher, all is vanity.
[9]Andmoreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed and sought out and composed many proverbs.
[10]ThePreacher sought to find agreeable words; and he wrote uprightly the words of truth.
[11]Thewords of the wise are as goads, and as nails deeply fastened, which are arranged by workmen and given from one master builder.
[12]Furthermore,my son, take heed; of writing many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh
[13]Letus hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear the LORD and keep his commandments; this is given by one Master to every man.
[14]Forthe LORD shall bring every work into judgment, concerning everything which is hidden and known, whether it be good or whether it be evil.
|