35 lines
1.9 KiB
Markdown
35 lines
1.9 KiB
Markdown
# Chapter 12
|
|
1 So remember your Creator in the days of your youth:
|
|
Before the days of adversity come,
|
|
and the years approach when you will say,
|
|
“I have no delight in them”;
|
|
2 before the sun and the light are darkened,
|
|
and the moon and the stars,
|
|
and the clouds return after the rain;
|
|
3 on the day when the guardians of the house tremble,
|
|
and the strong men stoop,
|
|
the women who grind grain cease because they are few,
|
|
and the ones who watch through the windows see dimly,
|
|
4 the doors at the street are shut
|
|
while the sound of the mill fades;
|
|
when one rises at the sound of a bird,
|
|
and all the daughters of song grow faint.
|
|
5 Also, they are afraid of heights and dangers on the road;
|
|
the almond tree blossoms,
|
|
the grasshopper loses its spring,
|
|
and the caper berry has no effect;
|
|
for the mere mortal is headed to his eternal home,
|
|
and mourners will walk around in the street;
|
|
6 before the silver cord is snapped,
|
|
and the gold bowl is broken,
|
|
and the jar is shattered at the spring,
|
|
and the wheel is broken into the well;
|
|
7 and the dust returns to the earth as it once was,
|
|
and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
|
|
8 “Absolute futility,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile.”
|
|
9 In addition to the Teacher being a wise man, he constantly taught the people knowledge; he weighed, explored, and arranged many proverbs.
|
|
10 The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and write words of truth accurately.
|
|
11 The sayings of the wise are like cattle prods, and those from masters of collections are like firmly embedded nails. The sayings are given by one Shepherd.
|
|
12 But beyond these, my son, be warned: there is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.
|
|
13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity.
|
|
14 For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil. |