Conclusion to Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 11–12 (selections)

4th–3rd Century BCE

Chapter 11

⁷How sweet is the light, what a delight for the eyes to behold the sun! ⁸Even if a man lives many years, let him enjoy himself in all of them, remembering how many the days of darkness are going to be. The only future is nothingness!

⁹O youth, enjoy yourself while you are young! Let your heart lead you to enjoyment in the days of your youth. Follow the desires of your heart and the glances of your eyes—but know well that God will call you to account for all such things—¹⁰and banish care from your mind, and pluck sorrow out of your flesh! For youth and black hair are fleeting.

Chapter 12

¹So appreciate your vigor in the days of your youth, before those days of sorrow come and those years arrive of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; ²before sun and light and moon and stars grow dark, and the clouds come back again after the rain: [ . . . ].

⁸Utter futility—said Koheleth—
All is futile!

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