Ecclesiastes 12

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  1. 1Remember your Creator now in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, 'I have no pleasure in them.'
  2. 2Before the sun, the light, the moon, or the stars are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain:
  3. 3In the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look out of the windows are darkened.
  4. 4The doors to the street will be shut when the sound of grinding is low, and he will rise at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music will be brought low.
  5. 5They will be afraid of heights, and fears will be along the way. The almond tree will flourish, the grasshopper will be a burden, and desire will fail, because man goes to his long home, and mourners walk the streets.
  6. 6Before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the fountain, or the wheel is broken at the cistern.
  7. 7Then the dust will return to the earth where it came from, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.
  8. 8"Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "all is vanity."
  9. 9In addition to being wise, the Preacher taught the people knowledge. He paid careful attention, sought out, and arranged many proverbs.
  10. 10The preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
  11. 11The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed by the masters of assemblies, given by one shepherd.
  12. 12And further, my son, be warned: there is no end to the making of many books, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
  13. 13Here is the final conclusion, after everything has been heard: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of every person.
  14. 14God will bring every deed to judgment — including every hidden thing, whether it's good or evil.
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