Ecclesiastes/Qohelet 12

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come And the years approach of which you will say, I have no pleasure in them;	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;
2 Before the sun is darkened. and the light, and the moon, and the stars, while the clouds return after the rain;	2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
3 When the guardians of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, And the grinders are idle because they are few, and they who look through the windows grow blind;	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,
4 When the doors to the street are shut, and the sound of the mill is low; When one waits for the chirp of a bird, but all the daughters of song are suppressed;	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;
5 And one fears heights, and perils in the street; When the almond tree blooms, and the locust grows sluggish and the caper berry is without effect, Because man goes to his lasting home, and mourners go about the streets;	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:
6 Before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is broken, And the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the broken pulley falls into the well,	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.
7 And the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the life breath returns to God who gave it.	7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
8 Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, all things are vanity!	8 Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.
9 Besides being wise, Qoheleth taught the people knowledge, and weighed, scrutinized and arranged many proverbs.	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.
10 Qoheleth sought to find pleasing sayings, and to write down true sayings with precision.	10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
11 The sayings of the wise are like goads; like fixed spikes are the topics given by one collector.	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 As to more than these, my son, beware. Of the making of many books there is no end, and in much study there is weariness for the flesh.	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.
13 The last word, when all is heard: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is man's all;	13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 because God will bring to judgment every work, with all its hidden qualities, whether good or bad.	14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.