Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8

New American Standard Bible 1995

⁷ The light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to ^(A)see the sun. ⁸ Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him ^(B)rejoice in them all, and 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 grief and anger from your heart and put away ^[c](F)pain from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are 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 draw near when 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 mighty men ^(J)stoop, the grinding ones stand idle because they are few, and ^(K)those who look through ^[d]windows grow 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 ^[e]sing softly. ⁵ Furthermore, ^[f]men are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags himself along, and the caperberry is ineffective. For man goes to his eternal ^(N)home while ^(O)mourners go about in the street. ⁶ Remember Him before the silver cord is ^[g]broken and the ^(P)golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the well 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 ^[h](R)spirit will return to ^(S)God who gave it. ⁸ “^(T)Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “all is vanity!”