12:1  Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth,
Before the difficult days come,
And the years draw near when you say,
"I have no pleasure in them":

12:2  While the sun and the light,
The moon and the stars,
Are not darkened,
And the clouds do not return after the rain;

12:3  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;

12:4  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 the daughters of music are brought low.

12:5  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 his eternal home,
And the mourners go about the streets.

12:6  Remember your Creator 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.

12:7  Then the dust will return to the earth as it was,
And the spirit will return to God who gave it.

12:8  "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher,
"All is vanity."

12:9  And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs.

12:10  The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright—words of truth.

12:11  The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd.

12:12  And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh.

12:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man's all.

12:14  For God will bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret thing,
Whether good or evil.