Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8
New American Standard Bible
7 The light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to (A)see the sun. 8 Indeed, if a person lives many years, let him (B)rejoice in them all; but let him remember the (C)days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come will be futility.
9 Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the [a]impulses of your heart and the [b](D)desires of your eyes. Yet know that (E)God will bring you to judgment for all these things. 10 So remove [c]sorrow from your heart and keep [d](F)pain away from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are [e]fleeting.
Remember God in Your Youth
12 (G)Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the (H)evil days come and the years approach when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the (I)sun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain; 3 on the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, and strong men are (J)bent over, the grinders stop working because they are few, and (K)those who look through [f]windows grow [g]dim; 4 and the doors on the street are shut as the (L)sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the (M)daughters of song will [h]sing softly. 5 Furthermore, people are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caper berry is ineffective. For man goes to his eternal (N)home while the (O)mourners move around in the street. 6 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is [i]broken and the (P)golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the spring is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; 7 then the (Q)dust will return to the earth as it was, and the [j](R)spirit will return to (S)God who gave it. 8 “(T)Futility of futilities,” says the Preacher, “all is futility!”
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 11:9 Lit ways
- Ecclesiastes 11:9 Lit sights
- Ecclesiastes 11:10 Or anger
- Ecclesiastes 11:10 Lit evil
- Ecclesiastes 11:10 Lit futility
- Ecclesiastes 12:3 Or holes
- Ecclesiastes 12:3 I.e., in their eyesight
- Ecclesiastes 12:4 Lit be low
- Ecclesiastes 12:6 As in LXX; Heb removed
- Ecclesiastes 12:7 Or breath
Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8
New Living Translation
Advice for Young and Old
7 Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning.
8 When people live to be very old, let them rejoice in every day of life. But let them also remember there will be many dark days. Everything still to come is meaningless.
9 Young people,[a] it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. 10 So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless.
12 Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.” 2 Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky. 3 Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop. Remember him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—stop grinding; and before your eyes—the women looking through the windows—see dimly.
4 Remember him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades. Now you rise at the first chirping of the birds, but then all their sounds will grow faint.
5 Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper, and the caperberry no longer inspires sexual desire. Remember him before you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral.
6 Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. 7 For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.
Concluding Thoughts about the Teacher
8 “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless.”
Footnotes
- 11:9 Hebrew Young man.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
