Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8
Legacy Standard Bible
7 The light is sweet, and it is good for the eyes to (A)see the sun. 8 Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him (B)be glad in them all, and let him remember the (C)days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come will be vanity.
9 Be glad, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be merry during the days of young manhood. And walk in the ways of your heart and in the (D)sights of your eyes. Yet know that (E)God will bring you to judgment for all these things. 10 So, remove vexation from your heart and put away (F)evil from your flesh because childhood and the prime of life are vanity.
Remember Your Creator in Your Youth
12 (G)Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the (H)evil days happen and the years draw near in which you will say, “I have no delight in them”; 2 before the (I)sun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain; 3 in the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, and valiant men (J)bend down, the grinding ones stand idle because they are few, and (K)those who look through [a]windows grow dark; 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 [b]sing softly. 5 Furthermore, [c]men are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road; the almond tree blooms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caperberry is ineffective. For man goes to his eternal (N)home, but the (O)mourners go about in the street. 6 Remember Him before the silver [d]cord is [e]snapped and the (P)golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the spring is broken and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; 7 then the (Q)dust will return to the earth as it was, and the [f](R)spirit will return to (S)God who gave it. 8 “(T)Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “all is vanity!”
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 12:3 Or holes
- Ecclesiastes 12:4 Lit be brought low
- Ecclesiastes 12:5 Lit they
- Ecclesiastes 12:6 Or vanity
- Ecclesiastes 12:6 As in Gr; Heb removed
- Ecclesiastes 12:7 Or breath
Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8
New International Version
Remember Your Creator While Young
7 Light is sweet,
and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.(A)
8 However many years anyone may live,
let them enjoy them all.
But let them remember(B) the days of darkness,
for there will be many.
Everything to come is meaningless.
9 You who are young, be happy while you are young,
and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
God will bring you into judgment.(C)
10 So then, banish anxiety(D) from your heart
and cast off the troubles of your body,
for youth and vigor are meaningless.(E)
12 Remember(F) your Creator
in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble(G) come
and the years approach when you will say,
“I find no pleasure in them”—
2 before the sun and the light
and the moon and the stars grow dark,
and the clouds return after the rain;
3 when the keepers of the house tremble,
and the strong men stoop,
when the grinders cease because they are few,
and those looking through the windows grow dim;
4 when the doors to the street are closed
and the sound of grinding fades;
when people rise up at the sound of birds,
but all their songs grow faint;(H)
5 when people are afraid of heights
and of dangers in the streets;
when the almond tree blossoms
and the grasshopper drags itself along
and desire no longer is stirred.
Then people go to their eternal home(I)
and mourners(J) go about the streets.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 12:8 Or the leader of the assembly; also in verses 9 and 10
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