Ecclesiastes/Qohelet 12

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Remember 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.”	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;
2 Before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain,	2 Before the sun is darkened. and the light, and the moon, and the stars, while the clouds return after the rain;
3 when 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.	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;
4 And 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.	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;
5 Likewise, 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 scattered, because man shall go into the house of his eternity, and the mourners shall wander around in the street.	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;
6 Before 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,	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,
7 and the dust returns to its earth, from which it was, and the spirit returns to God, who granted it.	7 And the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the life breath returns to God who gave it.
8 Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, and all is vanity!	8 Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, all things are vanity!
9 And since Ecclesiastes was very wise, he taught the people, and he described what he had accomplished. And while searching, he composed many parables.	9 Besides being wise, Qoheleth taught the people knowledge, and weighed, scrutinized and arranged many proverbs.
10 He sought useful words, and he wrote most righteous words, which were full of truth.	10 Qoheleth sought to find pleasing sayings, and to write down true sayings with precision.
11 The 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.	11 The sayings of the wise are like goads; like fixed spikes are the topics given by one collector.
12 You 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.	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.
13 Let us all listen together to the end of the discourse. Fear God, and observe his commandments. This is everything for man.	13 The last word, when all is heard: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is man's all;
14 And so, for all that is done and for each error, God will bring judgment: whether it was good or evil.	14 because God will bring to judgment every work, with all its hidden qualities, whether good or bad.