Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8
English Standard Version
7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to (A)see the sun.
8 So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember (B)that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is (C)vanity.[a]
9 (D)Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. (E)Walk in the ways of your heart and (F)the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things (G)God will bring you into judgment.
10 Remove vexation from your heart, and (H)put away pain[b] from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
Remember Your Creator in Your Youth
12 Remember also your Creator in (I)the days of your youth, before (J)the evil days come and the years draw near of which (K)you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before (L)the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, 3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and (M)those who look through the windows are dimmed, 4 and (N)the doors on the street are shut—when (O)the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all (P)the daughters of song are brought low— 5 they are afraid also of what is high, and (Q)terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along,[c] and desire fails, because man is going to his (R)eternal (S)home, and the (T)mourners go about the streets— 6 before the silver cord is snapped, or (U)the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is (V)shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7 and (W)the dust returns to the earth as it was, and (X)the spirit returns to God (Y)who gave it. 8 (Z)Vanity[d] of vanities, says (AA)the Preacher; all is vanity.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 11:8 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath”; also verse 10 (see note on 1:2)
- Ecclesiastes 11:10 Or evil
- Ecclesiastes 12:5 Or is a burden
- Ecclesiastes 12:8 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (three times in this verse); see note on 1:2
Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8
International Standard Version
Preparing for Old Age
7 How sweet is the daylight, and how pleasant it is for someone’s eyes to behold the sunshine! 8 Even if a person lives many years, let him enjoy them all, recalling that there will be many days of darkness to come—all of which are pointless. 9 So enjoy yourself in your youth, young man, and be encouraged during your younger days. Live as you like, consistent with your world view, but keep in mind that God will bring you to account for everything. 10 Banish sorrow from your heart, and evil from your body, since both childhood and the prime of life[a] are pointless.
Remember Your Creator
12 So remember your Creator during your youth!
Otherwise, troublesome days will come
and years will creep up on you when you’ll say,
“I find no pleasure in them,”
2 Otherwise, when the sun, daylight, moon, or stars turn dark,
or when clouds fail to return after the rain—
3 when that day comes, the palace guards will tremble,
strong men will stoop down,
women grinders will cease because they are few,
and the sight of[b] those who peer through the lattice will grow dim.
4 The doors to the street will be shut
when the sound of grinding decreases,
when one wakes up at the song of a bird,
and all of the singing women are silenced.
5 At that time they will fear climbing[c] heights
and dangers along the road
while the almond tree will blossom,
and the grasshopper is weighed down.
Desire will cease,[d]
because the person goes to his eternal home,
and mourners will gather in the marketplace.
6 When the silver cord is severed,
the golden vessel is broken,
the pitcher is shattered at the fountain,
and the wheel is broken at the cistern,
7 then man’s[e] dust will go back to the earth,
returning to what it was,
and the spirit[f] will return to the God who gave it.
8 “Utterly pointless,” says the Teacher.
“Everything is pointless.”
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 11:10 Lit. dark hair
- Ecclesiastes 12:3 The Heb. lacks the sight of
- Ecclesiastes 12:5 The Heb. lacks climbing
- Ecclesiastes 12:5 Lit. The caper berry will have no effect
- Ecclesiastes 12:7 The Heb. lacks man’s
- Ecclesiastes 12:7 Or the breath of life
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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