6. Remember your Creator while you are young, before the silver rope snaps and the golden bowl is crushed like a jar broken at the well, like a stone cover on a well that breaks and falls in.
7. Your body came from the earth. And when you die, it will return to the earth. But your spirit came from God, and when you die, it will return to him.
8. Everything is so meaningless. The Teacher says that it is all a waste of time!
9. The Teacher was very wise. He used his wisdom to teach the people. He very carefully studied and arranged many wise teachings.
10. The Teacher tried very hard to find the right words, and he wrote the teachings that are true and dependable.
11. Words from the wise are like sharp goads. When these sayings are written down and saved, they can be used to guide people, just as a shepherd uses a sharp stick to make his sheep go the right way.
12. So, son, study these sayings, but be careful about other teachings. People are always writing books, and too much study will make you very tired.
13-14. Now, what should we learn from everything that is written in this book? The most important thing a person can do is to respect God and obey his commands, because he knows about everything people do—even the secret things. He knows about all the good and all the bad, and he will judge people for everything they do.