Ecclesiastes 12:6-12

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.