First Reading
Ecclesiastes 11:9—12:8
Read this as the first big movement of the day. Notice what God is doing, who is speaking, and what part of the story or teaching should stay with you.
11:9Rejoice therefore, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart be in that which is good in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart, and before your eyes: and know that for all these God will bring you into judgment.
10Remove anger from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh. For youth and pleasure are vain.
12:1Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the time of suffering come, and the years draw nigh of which you shall say: They please me not:
2Before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars be darkened, and the clouds return after the rain:
3When the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall stagger, and the grinders shall be idle in a small number, and those who look through the holes shall be darkened:
4And they shall shut the doors in the street, when the grinder's voice shall be low, and they shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall grow deaf.
5And they shall fear high things, and they shall be afraid in the way, the almond tree shall flourish, the locust shall be made fat, and the caper tree shall be destroyed: because man shall go into the house of his eternity, and the mourners shall go round about in the street.
6Before the silver cord be broken, and the golden fillet shrink back, and the pitcher be crushed at the fountain, and the wheel be broken upon the cistern,
7And the dust return into its earth, from whence it was, and the spirit return to God, who gave it.
8Emptiness of empty things, said Ecclesiastes, and all things are emptiness.