Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8

International Children’s Bible

⁷ It is good to be alive
    to enjoy the light of day.
⁸ A person ought to enjoy every day of his life.
    This is true no matter how long he lives.
But he should also remember this:
    You will be dead much longer than you live.
    After you are dead, you accomplish nothing.
⁹ Young people, enjoy yourselves while you are young.
    Be happy while you are young.
Do whatever your heart desires.
    Do whatever you want to do.
But remember that God will judge you
    for everything you do.
¹⁰ So avoid sorrow and sadness.
    Forget about all the bad things that happen to you.
    This is because the joys of youth pass quickly away.

12 Remember your Creator while you are young.
Your old age is coming
    when you will have many troubles.
When that time comes,
    you won’t have much to enjoy.
² When you become old,
    the light from the sun, moon and stars will seem dark to you.
    It will seem as if the rain clouds never go away.
³ At that time your arms will lose their strength.
    Your strong legs will become weak and bent.
Your teeth will fall out so you cannot chew.
    Your eyes will not see clearly.
⁴ Your ears will be deaf to the noise in the streets.
    You will barely hear singing.
The sound of the millstone grinding your grain will seem very quiet.
    But you’ll wake up when a bird first starts singing!
⁵ You will fear high places.
    And you will be afraid to go for a walk because you may fall.
Your hair will become white like the flowers on an almond tree.
    You will limp along like a grasshopper when you walk.
    Your desires will be gone.
Then you will go to your everlasting home.
    And people will go to your funeral.