Ecclesiastes 12:5-13

⁵Before you develop a fear of heights and worry about going out on the streets; when the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper crawls along, and desire fails, for everyone has to go to their eternal home as the mourners go up and down the street.

⁶Before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is broken; before the water jug is smashed at the spring, or the pulley is broken at the well.

⁷Then the dust returns to the earth from which it came, and the breath of life returns to God who gave it.

⁸“Everything passes! It's all so hard to understand!” says the Teacher.

⁹Not only was the Teacher a wise man, he also taught what he knew to others. He thought about many proverbs, studying them and arranging them.

¹⁰The Teacher looked for the best way to explain things, writing truthfully and honestly.

¹¹The words of the wise are like cattle prods. Their collected sayings are like nails driven home, given by one shepherd.

¹²In addition, my student, take care, for there's no end to book writing, and too much study wears you out.

¹³To sum up now that everything has been discussed: Respect God by keeping his commandments, for that's what everyone should do.