“Man’s Whole Duty”

So remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and those years arrive of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;
12:1
Thus the dust returns to the ground, as it was, and the spirit returns to God Who gave it.
:7
… — all is futile!
:8
The sum of the matter, when all has been considered: Fear God and keep His commandments, for that is man’s whole duty.
:13
For God will judge every deed — even everything hidden — whether good or evil.
:14

1 And remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of evil come, and years arrive, about which you will say, “I have no desire in them.”
2 Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars darken, and the clouds return after the rain.
3 On the day that the keepers of the house tremble, and the mighty men are seized by cramps, and the grinders cease since they have become few, and those who look out of the windows become darkened.
4 And the doors shall be shut in the street when the sound of the mill is low, and one shall rise at the voice of a bird, and all the songstresses shall be brought low.
5 Also from the high places they will fear, and terrors on the road, and the almond tree will blossom, and the grasshopper will drag itself along, and sexual desire will fail, for man goes to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about in the street.
6 Before the silver cord snaps, and the golden fountain is shattered, and the pitcher breaks at the fountain, and the wheel falls shattered into the pit.
7 And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God, Who gave it.
8 “Vanity of vanities,” said Koheleth; “all is vanity.”
9 And more [than this], Koheleth was wise, he also taught knowledge to the people; he listened and sought out, he established many proverbs.
10 Koheleth sought to find words of delight and properly recorded words of truth.
11 The words of the wise are like goads, and like well-fastened nails with large heads, given from one shepherd.
12 And more than they, my son, beware; making many books has no end, and studying much is a weariness of the flesh.
13 The end of the matter, everything having been heard, fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the entire man.
14 For every deed God will bring to judgment-for every hidden thing, whether good or bad.