The Twilight of Life
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,(A)
“I have no delight in them”;
2
3 and the years approach when you will say,(A)
“I have no delight in them”;
on the day when the guardians of the house tremble,
and the strong men stoop,
the women who grind cease because they are few,
and the ones who watch through the windows see dimly,(C)
4 and the strong men stoop,
the women who grind cease because they are few,
and the ones who watch through the windows see dimly,(C)
the doors at the street are shut
while the sound of the mill fades;(D)
when one rises at the sound of a bird,
and all the daughters of song grow faint.
5
6
7
while the sound of the mill fades;(D)
when one rises at the sound of a bird,
and all the daughters of song grow faint.
The Teacher’s Objectives and Conclusion
9 In addition to the Teacher being a wise man, he constantly taught the people knowledge; he weighed, explored, and arranged many proverbs.(J)
10 The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and write words of truth accurately.
11 The sayings of the wise are like goads,(K) and those from masters of collections are like firmly embedded nails.(L) The sayings are given by one Shepherd.(d)
12 But beyond these, my son, be warned: there is no end to the making of many books,(M) and much study wearies the body.(N)
13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is: fear God(O) and keep His commands, because this is for all humanity.(P)
14 For God will bring every act to judgment,(Q) including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
Footnotes:
a.
Ecclesiastes 12:2: Or with
b.
Ecclesiastes 12:5: Or grasshopper is weighed down, or grasshopper drags itself along
c.
Ecclesiastes 12:6: Alt Hb tradition reads removed
d.
Ecclesiastes 12:11: Or by a shepherd