Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8
Christian Standard Bible
7 Light is sweet,
and it is pleasing for the eyes to see the sun.(A)
8 Indeed, if someone lives many years,
let him rejoice in them all,
and let him remember the days of darkness,(B) since they will be many.
All that comes is futile.
9 Rejoice, young person, while you are young,
and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth.
And walk in the ways of your heart
and in the desire of your eyes;(C)
but know that for all of these things God will bring you to judgment.
10 Remove sorrow from your heart,
and put away pain from your flesh,(D)
because youth and the prime of life are fleeting.
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,(E)
“I have no delight in them”;
2 before the sun and the light are darkened,(F)
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 grain cease because they are few,
and the ones who watch through the windows see dimly,(G)
4 the doors at the street are shut
while the sound of the mill fades;(H)
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 the mere mortal is headed to his eternal home,(I)
and mourners will walk around in the street;(J)
6 before the silver cord is snapped,[c]
and the gold bowl is broken,(K)
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.(L)
8 “Absolute futility,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile.”(M)
Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Youth and Old Age
7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.(A)
8 Even those who live many years should rejoice in them all, yet let them remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.(B)
9 Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the inclination of your heart and the desire of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.(C)
10 Banish anxiety from your mind, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.(D)
12 Remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return with[a] the rain; 3 in the day when the guards of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the women who grind cease working because they are few, and those who look through the windows see dimly; 4 when the doors on the street are shut, and the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low;(E) 5 when one is afraid of heights, and terrors are in the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along,[b] and the caper bud falls; because all must go to their eternal home, and the mourners will go about the streets;(F) 6 before the silver cord is snapped,[c] and the golden bowl is broken, and the pitcher is broken at the fountain, and the wheel broken at the cistern, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the breath[d] returns to God who gave it.(G) 8 Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher; all is vanity.
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.