12Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, "I have no delight in them";H2142H1254H3117H979H7451H3117H935H8141H5060H559H26562before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain;H8121H216H3394H3556H2821H5645H7725H310H16533in the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, and mighty men stoop, the grinding ones stand idle because they are few, and those who look through windows grow dim;H3117H8104H1004H2111H2428H582H5791H2912H988H4591H7200H699H28214and the doors on the street are shut as the sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the daughters of song will sing softly.H1817H5462H7784H6963H2913H8217H6965H6963H6833H1323H7892H78175Furthermore, men are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags himself along, and the caperberry is ineffective. For man goes to his eternal home while mourners go about in the street.H3372H1364H2849H1870H8247H5006H2284H5445H35H6565H120H1980H5769H1004H5594H5437H77846[Remember Him] before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed;H3808H3701H2256H7576H7368H2091H1543H7533H3537H7665H4002H1534H7533H9537then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.H6083H7725H776H7307H7725H430H54148"Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "all is vanity!"H1892H1892H559H6953H1892
Purpose of the Preacher
9In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out and arranged many proverbs.H3148H6953H2450H3925H5971H1847H239H2713H8626H7235H491210The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly.H6953H1245H4672H2656H1697H3789H3476H1697H57111The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of [these] collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd.H1697H2450H1861H4930H5193H1167H627H5414H259H746212But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion [to books] is wearying to the body.H3148H1992H1121H2094H6213H7235H5612H7093H7235H3854H3024H132013The conclusion, when all has been heard, [is:] fear God and keep His commandments, because this [applies to] every person.H8085H5490H1697H3372H430H8104H4687H12014For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.H430H935H4639H4941H5956H2896H7451
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