Before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened (sight is impaired), and the clouds (of depression) return after the rain (of tears);
In the day when the keepers of the house (the hands and the arms) tremble, and the strong men (the feet and the knees) bow themselves, and the grinders (the molar teeth) cease because they are few, and those who look out of the windows (the eyes) are darkened;
When the doors (the lips) are shut in the streets and the sound of the grinding (of the teeth) is low, and one rises up at the voice of a bird and the crowing of a cock, and all the daughters of music (the voice and the ear) are brought low;
Also when (the old) are afraid of danger from that which is high, and fears are in the way, and the almond tree (their white hair) blooms, and the grasshopper (a little thing) is a burden, and desire and appetite fail, because man goes to his everlasting home and the mourners go about the streets or marketplaces.
(Remember your Creator earnestly now) before the silver cord (of life) is snapped apart, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern (and the whole circulatory system of the blood ceases to function);
Then shall the dust (out of which God made man's body) return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return to God Who gave it.
Vapor of vapors and futility of futilities, says the Preacher. All is futility (emptiness, falsity, vainglory, and transitoriness)!
And furthermore, because the Preacher was wise, he (Solomon) still taught the people knowledge; and he pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.
The Preacher sought acceptable words, even to write down rightly words of truth or correct sentiment.
The words of the wise are like prodding goads, and firmly fixed (in the mind) like nails are the collected sayings which are (given as proceeding) from one Shepherd.
But about going further (than the words given by one Shepherd), my son, be warned. Of making many books there is no end (so do not believe everything you read), and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
All has been heard; the end of the matter is: Fear God (revere and worship Him, knowing that He is) and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man (the full, original purpose of his creation, the object of God's providence, the root of character, the foundation of all happiness, the adjustment to all inharmonious circumstances and conditions under the sun) and the whole (duty)for every man.
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it is good or evil.
These verses reveal to us a truth in regard to all people. That truth is that youthfulness and outward beauty are temporary, while spiritual beauty and character will endure throughout one's life and continue into eternity. Only the things that we accomplish in this life for Christ will last. Everything else is vanity. We shall all reap the fruit of the things we sow in this life.
When we are young and have our whole life ahead of us, we really do not think of the day that we will grow old and die. We do not usually consider what kind of legacy we will leave. Will it be one like the virtuous woman whose works were praised by the entire city? These words below from Ecclesiastes remind us to remember the Lord when we are young and all through our life, as there is a day that old age will come and then we will not have the opportunity to serve the Lord like we have today. Today we can live by the Wisdom and knowledge found in the book of Proverbs and the Bible. In doing this, we shall not regret our days on the earth.
