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