aRemember also your Creator
in the days
of your youth
, before
the bevil
days
come
and the years
draw
near
when
you will say
, "I have
no
delight
in them";
before the asun
and the light
, the moon
and the stars
are darkened
, and clouds
return
after
the rain
;
in the day that the watchmen
of the house
tremble
, and mighty
men
astoop
, the grinding
ones stand
idle
because
they are few
, and bthose who look
through 1windows
grow
dim
;
and the doors on the street
are shut
as the asound
of the grinding
mill
is low
, and one will arise
at the sound
of the bird
, and all
the bdaughters
of song
will 1sing
softly
.
Furthermore, 1men are afraid
of a high
place and of terrors
on the road
; the almond
tree
blossoms
, the grasshopper
drags
himself along, and the caperberry
is ineffective
. For man
goes
to his eternal
ahome
while bmourners
go
about
in the street
.
Remember Him before the silver
cord
is 1broken
and the agolden
bowl
is crushed
, the pitcher
by the well
is shattered
and the wheel
at the cistern
is crushed
;
then the adust will return
to the earth
as it was, and the 1 bspirit
will return
to cGod
who
gave
it.
" aVanity of vanities
," says
the Preacher
, "all
is vanity
!"
In addition to being
a wise
man
, the Preacher
also
taught
the people
knowledge
; and he pondered
, searched
out and arranged
amany
proverbs
.
The Preacher sought
to find
adelightful
words
and to write
bwords
of truth
correctly
.
The awords of wise
men
are like bgoads
, and masters
of these collections
are like 1well-driven
cnails
; they are given
by one
Shepherd
.
But beyond this
, my son
, be warned
: the 1writing
of amany
books
is endless
, and excessive
bdevotion
to books is wearying
to the body
.
The conclusion, when all
has been heard
, is: afear
God
and bkeep
His commandments
, because
this
applies to cevery
person
.
For aGod will bring
every
act
to judgment
, everything
which is hidden
, whether
it is good
or evil
.