Rhyming Ecclesiastes: Chapter 12

Rhyming Ecclesiastes: Chapter 12

Remember your Creator in the days
when you are young, for certain, trouble’s days
will come, the years approach, when you will say:
“No pleasure in them, no more, they convey”–
before the sun and light, and stars and moon
grow dark, and after rain, the clouds return;
when they will tremble, those, the house, who keep,
and strong men stoop, when grinders’ work, they cease
for they are few, those who, through windows, peer,
grow dim; when they’re closed, to the street, the doors,
and sounds of grinding fades; when people rise
up at the sound of birds, but all their songs
grow faint; when people are afraid of heights
and of uncertain dangers in the streets;
the almond tree, when it is blossoming,
and the grasshopper drags itself along,
desire is gone, no longer is it stirred.
To their eternal home, are men interred,
and mourners wailing, in the streets, their dirge.

Remember him–before the silver cord
is severed, broken, is the golden bowl;
before the pitcher’s shattered at the spring,
and at the well, the wheel won’t pull the string,
and down back to the ground where it came from,
the dust returns, so too, to God, to him,
who gave it, you, the spirit will return.

“All meaningless! All meaningless!”, he says,
the Teacher. “Everything is meaningless!”

The Conclusion of the Matter

Not only was the Teacher wise, but too,
the people, he imparted knowledge to.
He pondered, searched out and in order, set
the many proverbs. To find just the right
words, searched, the Teacher, and whate’er he wrote
was upright, true. Their words are just like goads,
those of the wise, like nails, embedded, drove,
their sayings, all collected, firmly, those–
by just a single shepherd they’re bestowed.
Be warned, my son, to them, of anything,
that’s in addition. Many books, to make,
there is no end to that activity
much study makes the body, weary, feel.
Now all’s been heard; conclude, here’s where, can we,
the matter: Fear God, his commandments, keep,
for this is mankind’s duty. For God brings
each deed to judgment, ev’ry hidden thing,
and whether good or evil, balancing.