Ecclesiastes

¹ Before the years take their toll and your vigor wanes,

² And the winter years keep you close to the fire.

³ Muscles slacken, grip weakens, joints stiffen. The shades are pulled down on the world.

⁴ The hum of the household fades away. You are wakened now by bird-song.

⁵ Even a stroll down the road has its terrors. Your hair turns apple-blossom white, Adorning a fragile and impotent matchstick body. Yes, you're well on your way to eternal rest, While your friends make plans for your funeral.

⁶ Life as we know it, precious and beautiful, ends.

⁷ The spirit returns to God, who first breathed it.

⁸ The Quester says that everything's smoke.

⁹ Besides being wise himself, the Quester also taught others knowledge. He weighed, examined, and arranged many proverbs.

¹⁰ The Quester did his best to find the right words and write the plain truth.

¹¹ They're like nails hammered home, holding life together. They are given by God, the one Shepherd.

¹² But regarding anything beyond this, dear friend, go easy. There's no end to the publishing of books, and constant study wears you out so you're no good for anything else.

¹³ Fear God. Do what he tells you.

¹⁴ And that's it. Eventually God will bring everything that we do out into the open and judge it according to its hidden intent, whether it's good or evil.