1The Creator to be remembered in due time. 8The Preacher's care to edify. 13The general conclusion, that man's chief concern is to fear God, and obey his laws.
Quick Tip
Reading is great—but if you ever want to study, just tap a lightbulb
icon.
11REMEMBER now thy aCreator in the days of thy youth, while 2the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
2While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
3In the day when the keepers of the 1house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and athe grinders cease because they are few, 2and those that look out of the windows be darkened,
4And 1the 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, 2and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;
5Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and 1the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to 2his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:
6Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden 1bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.
71Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and 2the spirit shall return unto God 3who gave it.
8¶ 1Vanity of vanities, saith 2the preacher; all is vanity.
9And amoreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and1set in order many proverbs.
10The preacher sought to find 1out aacceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
111The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from 2one shepherd.
12And further, by 1these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much astudy is a weariness of the flesh.
13¶ aLet us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: 1Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14For 1God shall bring every work into 2judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.