Dual Panel1Remember<2142> also your Creator<1254> in the days<3117> of your youth<979>, before<5704><834><3808> the evil<7463> days<3117> come<935> and the years<8141> draw<5060> near<5060> when<834> you will say<559>, "I have<369> no<369> delight<2656> in them";
2before<5704><834><3808> the sun<8121> and the light<216>, the moon<3394> and the stars<3556> are darkened<2821>, and clouds<5645> return<7725> after<310> the rain<1653>;
3in the day<3117> that the watchmen<8104> of the house<1004> tremble<2111>, and mighty<2428> men<376> stoop<5791>, the grinding<2912> ones stand<988> idle<988> because<3588> they are few<4591>, and those who look<7200> through windows<699> grow<2821> dim<2821>;
4and the doors<1817> on the street<7784> are shut<5462> as the sound<6963> of the grinding<2913> mill<2913> is low<8217>, and one will arise<6965> at the sound<6963> of the bird<6833>, and all<3605> the daughters<1323> of song<7892> will sing<7817> softly<7817>.
5Furthermore<1571>, men are afraid<3372> of a high<1364> place and of terrors<2849> on the road<1870>; the almond<8247> tree<8247> blossoms<5340>, the grasshopper<2284> drags<5445> himself along, and the caperberry<35> is ineffective<6565>. For man<120> goes<1980> to his eternal<5769> home<1004> while mourners<5594> go<5437> about<5437> in the street<7784>.
6Remember Him before<5704><834><3808> the silver<3701> cord<2256> is broken<7576> and the golden<2091> bowl<1543> is crushed<7533>, the pitcher<3537> by the well<4002> is shattered<7665> and the wheel<1534> at the cistern<953> is crushed<7533>;
7then the dust<6083> will return<7725> to the earth<776> as it was, and the spirit<7307> will return<7725> to God<430> who<834> gave<5414> it.
8"Vanity<1892> of vanities<1892>," says<559> the Preacher<6953>, "all<3605> is vanity<1892>!"
9In addition<3148> to being<1961> a wise<2450> man<2450>, the Preacher<6953> also<5750> taught<3925> the people<5971> knowledge<1847>; and he pondered<239>, searched<2713> out and arranged<8626> many<7235> proverbs<4912>.
10The Preacher<6953> sought<1245> to find<4672> delightful<2656> words<1697> and to write<3789> words<1697> of truth<571> correctly<3476>.
11The words<1697> of wise<2450> men<2450> are like goads<1861>, and masters<1167> of these collections<627> are like well-driven<5193> nails<4548>; they are given<5414> by one<259> Shepherd<7462>.
12But beyond<3148> this<1992>, my son<1121>, be warned<2094>: the writing<6213> of many<7235> books<5612> is endless<7093><369>, and excessive<3854> devotion<3854> to books is wearying<3024> to the body<1320>.
13The conclusion<5490><1697>, when all<3605> has been heard<8085>, is: fear<3372> God<430> and keep<8104> His commandments<4687>, because<3588> this<2088> applies to every<3605> person<120>.
14For God<430> will bring<935> every<3605> act<4639> to judgment<4941>, everything<3605> which is hidden<5956>, whether<518> it is good<2896> or evil<7451>.