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Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8
English Standard Version
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
New International Version
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
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.