1* Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,

before the evil days come

And the years approach of which you will say,

“I have no pleasure in them”;

2Before the sun is darkened,

and the light and the moon and the stars

and the clouds return after the rain;

3* When the guardians of the house tremble,

and the strong men are bent;

When the women who grind are idle because they are few,

and those who look through the windows grow blind;

4When the doors to the street are shut,

and the sound of the mill is low;

When one rises at the call of a bird,

and all the daughters of song are quiet;

5When one is afraid of heights,

and perils in the street;

When the almond tree blooms,

and the locust grows sluggish

and the caper berry is without effect,

Because mortals go to their lasting home,

and mourners go about the streets;

6* Before the silver cord is snapped

and the golden bowl is broken,

And the pitcher is shattered at the spring,

and the pulley is broken at the well,

7And the dust returns to the earth as it once was,

and the life breath returns to God who gave it.* a

8Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth,

all things are vanity!b