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;
12:1 Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, "I have no pleasure in them":

12:2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
12:2 While the sun and the light, The moon and the stars, Are not darkened, And the clouds do not 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 be darkened,
12:3 In the day when the keepers of the house tremble, And the strong men bow down; When the grinders cease because they are few, And those that look through the windows grow dim;

12:4 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;
12:4 When the doors are shut in the streets, And the sound of grinding is low; When one rises up at the sound of a bird, And all the daughters of music are brought low;

12:5 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:
12:5 Also they are afraid of height, And of terrors in the way; When the almond tree blossoms, The grasshopper is a burden, And desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home, And the mourners go about the streets.

12:6 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.
12:6 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the well.

12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return 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 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.
12:9 And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs.

12:10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and [that which was] written [was] upright, [even] words of truth.
12:10 The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright--words of truth.

12:11 The words of the wise [are] as goads, and as nails fastened [by] the masters of assemblies, [which] are given from one shepherd.
12:11 The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd.

12:12 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.
12:12 And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh.

12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man.
12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all.

12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether [it be] good, or whether [it be] evil.
12:14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.