12:1 And remember thy Creator in the days of
thy youth, before the days of evil come, and the years overtake [thee] in
which thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.
12:2 While the sun and light are not darkened, nor the moon and the stars;
nor the clouds return after the rain:
12:3 in the day wherein the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the
mighty men shall become bent, and the grinding [women] cease because they
have become few, and the [women] looking out at the windows be dark;
12:4 and they shall shut the doors in the market-place, because of the
weakness of the voice of her that grinds [at the mill]; and he shall rise up
at the voice of the sparrow, and all the daughters of song shall be brought
low;
12:5 and they shall look up, and fears [shall be] in the way, and the almond
tree shall blossom, and the locust shall increase, and the caper shall be
scattered: because man has gone to his eternal home, and the mourners have
gone about the market:
12:6 before the silver cord be [let go], or the choice gold be broken, or
the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel run down to the cistern;
12:7 [before] the dust also return to the earth as it was, and the spirit
return to Elohim who gave it.
12:8 Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher; all is vanity.
12:9 And because the Preacher was wise above [others, so it was] that he
taught man excellent knowledge, and the ear will trace out the parables.
12:10 The Preacher sought diligently to find out acceptable words, and a
correct writing, [even] words of truth.
12:11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails firmly fastened,
which have been given from one shepherd by agreement.
12:12 And moreover, my son, guard thyself by means of them: of making many
books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
12:13 Hear the end of the matter, the sun: Fear Elohim, and keep his
commandments: for this is the whole man.
12:14 For Elohim will bring every work into judgment, with everything that has
been overlooked, whether [it be] good, or whether [it be] evil. |
12:1 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;
12:2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not
darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
12:3 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,
12:4 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;
12:5 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:
12:6 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.
12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall
return unto Elohim who gave it.
12:8 Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.
12:9 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.
12:10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was
written was upright, even words of truth.
12:11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the
masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
12:12 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.
12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear Elohim, and keep his
commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
12:14 For Elohim shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing,
whether it be good, or whether it be evil. |