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          DASV: Ecclesiastes 12    

1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,
     before the days of bodily trouble come,
           and the years draw nigh,
     when you will lament, "I have no pleasure in them;"
2 before the sun, and the light,
     and the moon, and the stars are darkened,
           and the clouds return after the rain;
3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble,
     and the strong men are bent over,
   and the grinders cease because they are few,
     and those who look through windows grow dark;
4 and the doors to the street are shut;
     when the sound of the grinding fades,
   and one rises early with the sound of a bird,
     yet all their songs are faint;
5 when one becomes afraid of heights,
     and terrors lurk in the street;
  and the almond tree blossoms,
     and the grasshopper drags itself along,
           and desire fails;
   because man goes to his everlasting home,
     and the mourners go about the streets;
6 before the silver cord is snapped,
     and the golden bowl is broken,
           and the pitcher is broken at the fountain,
  and 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 Teacher [Qohelet];
     all is vanity.
9 Besides being wise, the Teacher also taught the
people knowledge; he pondered, and searched out,
and arranged many proverbs.
10 The Teacher searched to find delightful words,
and write true sayings precisely.
11 The words of the wise are like goads;
     like nails firmly fixed in collected sayings,
           given from one shepherd.
12 Beware of anything beyond them, my son,
     of the making many books there is no end;
           and much study wearies the body.
13 Now that all has been heard,
     here is the conclusion:
           fear God, and keep his commandments;
           for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,
     including everything that is hidden,
           whether it is good or bad.

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