Eclesiastes 12

1 Remember*2 Chr. 34:3; Prov. 22:6; Lam. 3:27 now your Creator in the days of your youth,

Before the difficult days come,

And the years draw near *2 Sam. 19:35when you say,

"I have no pleasure in them":

2 While the sun and the light,

The moon and the stars,

Are not darkened,

And the clouds do not return after the rain;

3 In the day when the keepers of the house tremble,

And the strong men bow down;

When the grinders cease because they are few,

And those that look through the windows grow dim;

4 When the doors are shut in the streets,

And the sound of grinding is low;

When one rises up at the sound of a bird,

And all *2 Sam. 19:35the daughters of music are brought low.

5 Also they are afraid of height,

And of terrors in the way;

When the almond tree blossoms,

The grasshopper is a burden,

And desire fails.

For man goes to *Job 17:13his eternal home,

And *Gen. 50:10; Jer. 9:17the mourners go about the streets.

6 RememberyourCreator before the silver cord is loosed,

Or the golden bowl is broken,

Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain,

Or the wheel broken at the well.

7 *Gen. 3:19; Job 34:15; Ps. 90:3Then the dust will return to the earth as it was,

*Eccl. 3:21And the spirit will return to God *Num. 16:22; 27:16; Job 34:14; Is. 57:16; Zech. 12:1who gave it.

8 "Vanity*Ps. 62:9 of vanities," says the Preacher,

"All is vanity."

The Whole Duty of Man

9 And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and*1 Kin. 4:32set in order many proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and whatwas written was upright—words of truth. 11 The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. 12 And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books thereis no end, and *Eccl. 1:18much study is wearisome to the flesh.

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

*(Deut. 6:2; 10:12); Mic. 6:8Fear God and keep His commandments,

For this is man’s all.

14 For *Eccl. 11:9; Matt. 12:36; (Acts 17:30, 31; Rom. 2:16; 1 Cor. 4:5; 2 Cor. 5:10)God will bring every work into judgment,

Including every secret thing,

Whether good or evil.