Ecclesiastes 12
New American Standard Bible
Remember God in Your Youth
12 (A)Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the (B)evil days come and the years approach when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the (C)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 (D)bent over, the grinders stop working because they are few, and (E)those who look through [a]windows grow [b]dim; 4 and the doors on the street are shut as the (F)sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the (G)daughters of song will [c]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 (H)home while the (I)mourners move around in the street. 6 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is [d]broken and the (J)golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the spring is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; 7 then the (K)dust will return to the earth as it was, and the [e](L)spirit will return to (M)God who gave it. 8 “(N)Futility of futilities,” says the Preacher, “all is futility!”
Purpose of the Preacher
9 In addition to being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out, and arranged (O)many proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find (P)delightful words and to write (Q)words of truth correctly.
11 The (R)words of the wise are like [f](S)goads, and masters of these collections are like driven (T)nails; they are given by one Shepherd. 12 But beyond this, my son, be warned: the [g]writing of (U)many books is endless, and excessive (V)study is [h]wearying to the body.
13 The conclusion, when everything has been heard, is: (W)fear God and (X)keep His commandments, because this applies to (Y)every person. 14 For (Z)God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.
Footnotes
- 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 12:11 I.e., spiked sticks for driving cattle
- Ecclesiastes 12:12 Lit making
- Ecclesiastes 12:12 Lit weariness
Ecclesiastes 12
Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Twilight of Life
12 So remember your Creator in the days of your youth:
Before the days of adversity come,
and the years approach when you will say,(A)
“I have no delight in them”;
2 before the sun and the light are darkened,(B)
and the moon and the stars,
and the clouds return after[a] the rain;
3 on the day when the guardians of the house tremble,
and the strong men stoop,
the women who grind cease because they are few,
and the ones who watch through the windows see dimly,(C)
4 the doors at the street are shut
while the sound of the mill fades;(D)
when one rises at the sound of a bird,
and all the daughters of song grow faint.
5 Also, they are afraid of heights and dangers on the road;
the almond tree blossoms,
the grasshopper loses its spring,[b]
and the caper berry has no effect;
for man is headed to his eternal home,(E)
and mourners will walk around in the street;(F)
6 before the silver cord is snapped,[c]
and the gold bowl is broken,(G)
and the jar is shattered at the spring,
and the wheel is broken into the well;
7 and the dust returns to the earth as it once was,
and the spirit returns to God who gave it.(H)
8 “Absolute futility,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile.”(I)
The Teacher’s Objectives and Conclusion
9 In addition to the Teacher being a wise man, he constantly taught the people knowledge; he weighed, explored, and arranged many proverbs.(J) 10 The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and write words of truth accurately. 11 The sayings of the wise are like goads,(K) and those from masters of collections are like firmly embedded nails.(L) The sayings are given by one Shepherd.[d]
12 But beyond these, my son, be warned: there is no end to the making of many books,(M) and much study wearies the body.(N) 13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is: fear God(O) and keep His commands, because this is for all humanity.(P) 14 For God will bring every act to judgment,(Q) including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 12:2 Or with
- Ecclesiastes 12:5 Or grasshopper is weighed down, or grasshopper drags itself along
- Ecclesiastes 12:6 Alt Hb tradition reads removed
- Ecclesiastes 12:11 Or by a shepherd
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