Ecclesiastes

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the time of affliction arrives, and the years draw near, about which you will say, “These do not please me.”

Before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain,

when the caretakers of the house will tremble, and the strongest men will waver, and the grinders will be idle, diminishing in number, and those who look through the windows will become dim,

and they will close the doors to the street, when the noise of the grinder is humbled, and they will rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of song will become hard of hearing.

And still, they will fear the high things, and they will dread the way. The almond tree will flourish; the locust will become fat; the caper plant will be scattered. For man will go into the house of his eternity, and the mourners will wander in the midst of the street.

Before the silver cord is broken, and the golden band shrinks back, and the pitcher is crushed over the fountain, and the wheel is broken upon the cistern,

and the dust returns to its earth, from which it was, and the spirit returns to God, who granted it.

Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, and all is vanity.

And since Ecclesiastes was very wise, he taught the people, and he described what he had done. And while seeking, he composed many parables.

He sought useful words, and he wrote most righteous words, which were full of truth.

The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails that are driven deep, which, set forth by the counsel of the masters, are given by one Shepherd.

You should require no more than these, my son. For there is no end to the making of many books. And excessive study is an affliction to the flesh.

Let us all listen together to the end of the discourse. Fear God, and observe his commandments. This is everything for man.

And so, for all that is done and for each error, God will bring judgment: whether it is good or evil.