الإصحَاحُ
الثَّانِي عَشَرَ

 

Chapter
12

1
Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come
not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

2
While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor
the clouds return after the rain:

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 be darkened,

4
And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is
low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of
musick shall be brought low;

5
Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the
way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden,
and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go
about the streets:

6
Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher
be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.

7
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return
unto God who gave it.

8
Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

9
And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people
knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many
proverbs.

10
The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written
was upright, even words of truth.

11
The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of
assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

12
And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no
end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

13
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his
commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

14
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether
it be good, or whether it be evil.