Ecclesiastes 12

1Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the time of affliction come, and the years draw nigh of which thou shalt say: They please me not:

2Before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars be darkened, and the clouds return after the rain:

3When the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall stagger, and the grinders shall be idle in a small number, and they that look through the holes shall be darkened:

4And they shall shut the doors in the street, when the grinder’s voice shall be low, and they shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall grow deaf.

5And they shall fear high things, and they shall be afraid in the way, the almond tree shall flourish, the locust shall be made fat, and the caper tree shall be destroyed: because man shall go into the house of his eternity, and the mourners shall go round about in the street.

6Before the silver cord be broken, and the golden fillet shrink back, and the pitcher be crushed at the fountain, and the wheel be broken upon the cistern,

7And the dust return into its earth, from whence it was, and the spirit return to God, who gave it.

8Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, and all things are vanity.

9And whereas Ecclesiastes was very wise, he taught the people, and declared the things that he had done: and seeking out, he set forth many parables.

10He sought profitable words, and wrote words most right, and full of truth.

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

12More than these, my son, require not. Of making many books there is no end: and much study is an affliction of the flesh.

13Let us all hear together the conclusion of the discourse. Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is all man:

14And all things that are done, God will bring into judgment for every error, whether it be good or evil.

1[Memento Creatoris tui in diebus juventutis tuæ, antequam veniat tempus afflictionis, et appropinquent anni de quibus dicas: Non mihi placent;

2antequam tenebrescat sol, et lumen, et luna, et stellæ, et revertantur nubes post pluviam;

3quando commovebuntur custodes domus, et nutabunt viri fortissimi, et otiosæ erunt molentes in minuto numero, et tenebrescent videntes per foramina;

4et claudent ostia in platea, in humilitate vocis molentis, et consurgent ad vocem volucris, et obsurdescent omnes filiæ carminis:

5excelsa quoque timebunt, et formidabunt in via. Florebit amygdalus, impinguabitur locusta, et dissipabitur capparis, quoniam ibit homo in domum æternitatis suæ, et circuibunt in platea plangentes.

6Antequam rumpatur funiculus argenteus, et recurrat vitta aurea, et conteratur hydria super fontem, et confringatur rota super cisternam,

7et revertatur pulvis in terram suam unde erat, et spiritus redeat ad Deum, qui dedit illum.

8Vanitas vanitatum, dixit Ecclesiastes, et omnia vanitas.]

9[Cumque esset sapientissimus Ecclesiastes, docuit populum, et enarravit quæ fecerat; et investigans composuit parabolas multas.

10Quæsivit verba utilia, et conscripsit sermones rectissimos ac veritate plenos.

11Verba sapientium sicut stimuli, et quasi clavi in altum defixi, quæ per magistrorum consilium data sunt a pastore uno.

12His amplius, fili mi, ne requiras. Faciendi plures libros nullus est finis; frequensque meditatio, carnis afflictio est.

13Finem loquendi pariter omnes audiamus. Deum time, et mandata ejus observa: hoc est enim omnis homo,

14et cuncta quæ fiunt adducet Deus in judicium pro omni errato, sive bonum, sive malum illud sit.]

1Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the time of affliction arrives and the years draw near, about which you will say, “These do not please me.”

2Before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain,

3when the guardians of the house will tremble, and the strongest men will waver, and those who grind grain will be idle, except for a small number, and those who look through the keyholes will be darkened.

4And they will close the doors to the street, when the voice of he who grinds the grain will be humbled, and they will be disturbed at the sound of a flying thing, and all the daughters of song shall become deaf.

5Likewise, they will fear the things above them, and they will dread the way. The almond tree will flourish; the locust will be fattened; and the caper plant will be scattered, because man shall go into the house of his eternity, and the mourners shall wander around in the street.

6Before the silver cord is broken, and the golden band pulls away, and the pitcher is crushed over the fountain, and the wheel is broken above the cistern,

7and the dust returns to its earth, from which it was, and the spirit returns to God, who granted it.

8Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, and all is vanity!

9And since Ecclesiastes was very wise, he taught the people, and he described what he had accomplished. And while searching, he composed many parables.

10He sought useful words, and he wrote most righteous words, which were full of truth.

11The words of the wise are like a goad, and like nails deeply fastened, which, through the counsel of teachers, are set forth by one pastor.

12You should require no more than this, my son. For there is no end to the making of many books. And excessive study is an affliction to the flesh.

13Let us all listen together to the end of the discourse. Fear God, and observe his commandments. This is everything for man.

14And so, for all that is done and for each error, God will bring judgment: whether it was good or evil.