[12:1] Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw near, when you will say, "I have no pleasure in them;" [12:2] Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain; [12:3] in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look out of the windows are darkened, [12:4] and the doors shall be shut in the street; when the sound of the grinding is low, and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low; [12:5] yes, they shall be afraid of heights, and terrors will be in the way; and the almond tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goes to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets: [12:6] before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the spring, or the wheel broken at the cistern, [12:7] and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. [12:8] Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher. All is vanity!
[12:9] Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs. [12:10] The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth. [12:11] The words of the wise are like goads; and like nails well fastened are words from the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. [12:12] Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
[12:13] This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. [12:14] For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.
Song of Solomon
[1:1] The Song of songs, which is Solomon's.
Beloved [1:2] Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; for your love is better than wine. [1:3] Your oils have a pleasing fragrance. Your name is oil poured forth, therefore the virgins love you. [1:4] Take me away with you. Let us hurry. The king has brought me into his chambers. Friends We will be glad and rejoice in you. We will praise your love more than wine! Beloved They are right to love you. [1:5] I am dark, but lovely, you daughters of Jerusalem, like Kedar's tents, like Solomon's curtains. [1:6] Don't stare at me because I am dark, because the sun has scorched me. My mother's sons were angry with me. They made me keeper of the vineyards. I haven't kept my own vineyard. [1:7] Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you graze your flock, where you rest them at noon; For why should I be as one who is veiled beside the flocks of your companions? Lover [1:8] If you don't know, most beautiful among women, follow the tracks of the sheep. Graze your young goats beside the shepherds' tents. [1:9] I have compared you, my love, to a steed in Pharaoh's chariots. [1:10] Your cheeks are beautiful with earrings, your neck with strings of jewels. [1:11] We will make you earrings of gold, with studs of silver. Beloved [1:12] While the king sat at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance. [1:13] My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh, that lies between my breasts. [1:14] My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms from the vineyards of En Gedi. Lover [1:15] Behold, you are beautiful, my love. Behold, you are beautiful. Your eyes are doves. Beloved [1:16] Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, yes, pleasant; and our couch is verdant. Lover [1:17] The beams of our house are cedars. Our rafters are firs.
Beloved [2:1] I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. Lover [2:2] As a lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. Beloved [2:3] As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, his fruit was sweet to my taste. [2:4] He brought me to the banquet hall. His banner over me is love. [2:5] Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples; For I am faint with love. [2:6] His left hand is under my head. His right hand embraces me. [2:7] I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, or by the hinds of the field, that you not stir up, nor awaken love, until it so desires. [2:8] The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes, leaping on the mountains, skipping on the hills. [2:9] My beloved is like a roe or a young hart. Behold, he stands behind our wall! He looks in at the windows. He glances through the lattice. [2:10] My beloved spoke, and said to me, "Rise up, my love, my beautiful one, and come away. [2:11] For, behold, the winter is past. The rain is over and gone. [2:12] The flowers appear on the earth. The time of the singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. [2:13] The fig tree ripens her green figs. The vines are in blossom. They give forth their fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away." Lover [2:14] My dove in the clefts of the rock, In the hiding places of the mountainside, Let me see your face. Let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely. [2:15] Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards; for our vineyards are in blossom. Beloved [2:16] My beloved is mine, and I am his. He browses among the lilies. [2:17] Until the day is cool, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be like a roe or a young hart on the mountains of Bether.