MLV(i)
1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near, when 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,
3 in the day when the keepers of the house will tremble and the strong men will bow themselves down and the grinders cease because they are few and those who look out of the windows will be darkened,
4 and the doors will be shut in the street, when the sound of the grinding is low and he will rise up at the voice of a bird and all the daughters of music will be brought low,
5 yes, they will be afraid of height and terrors will be in the way and the almond tree will blossom and the grasshopper will be a burden and desire will fail, because man goes to his everlasting home and the mourners go about the streets,
6 before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern,
7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, all is vanity.
9 And further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words and what was written uprightly–words of truth.
11 The words of the wise are as cattle-prods and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies. They have been given from one shepherd.
12 And furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
13 This is the end of the matter, all has been heard: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole of man. 14 Because God will bring every work with every hidden thing, whether good or evil into judgment.
8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, all is vanity.
9 And further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words and what was written uprightly–words of truth.
11 The words of the wise are as cattle-prods and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies. They have been given from one shepherd.
12 And furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
13 This is the end of the matter, all has been heard: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole of man. 14 Because God will bring every work with every hidden thing, whether good or evil into judgment.