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Ecclesiastes, the Preacher

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- Chapter 12 -

Remember your Creator

1
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.”
2
Before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain,(a) (b)
3
when the guardians of the house will tremble, and the strongest men will waver, and those who grind grain will be idle, except for a small number, and those who look through the keyholes will be darkened.(c)
4
And they will close the doors to the street, when the voice of he who grinds the grain will be humbled, and they will be disturbed at the sound of a flying thing, and all the daughters of song shall become deaf.
5
Likewise, they will fear the things above them, and they will dread the way. The almond tree will flourish; the locust will be fattened; and the caper plant will be scattered, because man shall go into the house of his eternity, and the mourners shall wander around in the street.
6
Before the silver cord is broken, and the golden band pulls away, and the pitcher is crushed over the fountain, and the wheel is broken above the cistern,(d)
7
and the dust returns to its earth, from which it was, and the spirit returns to God, who granted it.
8
Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, and all is vanity!

The fear of God is supreme

9
And since Ecclesiastes was very wise, he taught the people, and he described what he had accomplished. And while searching, he composed many parables.
10
He sought useful words, and he wrote most righteous words, which were full of truth.
11
The words of the wise are like a goad, and like nails deeply fastened, which, through the counsel of teachers, are set forth by one pastor.(e)
12
You should require no more than this, my son. For there is no end to the making of many books. And excessive study is an affliction to the flesh.
13
Let us all listen together to the end of the discourse. Fear God, and observe his commandments. This is everything for man.(f)
14
And so, for all that is done and for each error, God will bring judgment: whether it was good or evil.(g)

Footnotes

(a)12:2 This verse refers to the three days of darkness and to the afflictions which precede it.(Conte)
(b)12:2 Before the sun, etc:That is, before old age: the effects of which upon all the senses and faculties are described in the following verses, under a variety of figures.(Challoner)
(c)12:3 This verse refers to the tribulation, when the guardians of the beliefs and practices of the Church will tremble, and even those strongest in the faith will waver, and those who say Mass, consecrating the pure grain of the Eucharist, will be idle, except for a small number, and when those who prophecy about the future (looking, as it were, through the keyhole) will have nothing more to say.(Conte)
(d)12:6 I realize that verses 2 and 6 are not complete sentences in English, but the alternative is to make the whole passage one extremely long sentence, or to repeat the phrase ‘Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before…’ The Bible does not always follow modern rules of grammar and composition, so neither should a translator.(Conte)
(e)12:11 This verse refers to the wisdom of the Magisterium and especially the teaching of the Supreme Pastor of Souls, the Pope.(Conte)
(f)12:13 All man:The whole business and duty of man.(Challoner)
(g)12:14 Error:Or, hidden and secret thing.(Challoner)

Remember your Creator

1
Remember 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 pleasure in them;”
2
Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;
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 who look out of the windows are darkened,
4
and the doors shall be shut in the street; when the sound of the grinding is low, and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low;
5
yes, they shall be afraid of heights, and terrors will be on the way; and the almond tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goes to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets;
6
before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the spring, or the wheel broken at the cistern,
7
and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All is vanity!”

The fear of God is supreme

9
Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
10
The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth.
11
The words of the wise are like goads; and like nails well fastened are words from the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
12
Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
13
This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
14
For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.
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