12:1 Remember also thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
12:1 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 delight in them";

12:2 before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars, are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;
12:2 before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain;

12:3 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 shall be darkened,
12:3 in the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, and mighty men stoop, the grinding ones stand idle because they are few, and those who look through windows grow dim;

12:4 and the doors shall be shut in the street; when the sound of the grinding is low, and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low;
12:4 and the doors on the street are shut as the sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the daughters of song will sing softly.

12:5 yea, they shall be afraid of (that which is) high, and terrors (shall be) in the way; and the almond-tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goeth to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets:
12:5 Furthermore, men 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 home while mourners go about in the street.

12:6 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,
12:6 [Remember Him] before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed;

12:7 and the dust returneth to the earth as it was, and the spirit returneth unto God who gave it.
12:7 then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

12:8 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.
12:8 "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "all is vanity!"

12:9 And further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he pondered, and sought out, (and) set in order many proverbs.
12:9 In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out and arranged many proverbs.

12:10 The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written uprightly, (even) words of truth.
12:10 The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly.

12:11 The words of the wise are as goads; and as nails well fastened are (the words of) the masters of assemblies, (which) are given from one shepherd.
12:11 The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of [these] collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd.

12:12 And furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
12:12 But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion [to books] is wearying to the body.

12:13 (This is) the end of the matter; all hath been heard: fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole (duty) of man.
12:13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, [is:] fear God and keep His commandments, because this [applies to] every person.

12:14 For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
12:14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.