Eclesiastés 12
La Biblia de las Américas
12 Acuérdate, pues, de tu Creador(A) en los días de tu juventud,
antes que vengan los días malos(B),
y se acerquen los años en que digas:
No tengo en ellos placer;
2 antes que se oscurezcan el sol y la luz,
la luna y las estrellas(C),
y las nubes vuelvan tras la lluvia;
3 el día cuando tiemblen los guardas de la casa
y los fuertes se encorven(D),
las que muelen estén ociosas porque son pocas,
y se nublen(E) los que miran por las ventanas[a];
4 cuando se cierren las puertas de la calle
por ser bajo el sonido del molino(F),
y se levante uno al canto del ave,
y todas las hijas del canto sean abatidas(G);
5 cuando también teman a la altura y a los terrores en el camino,
y florezca el almendro, se arrastre la langosta y la alcaparra pierda su efecto[b];
porque el hombre va a su morada eterna(H)
mientras los del duelo(I) andan por la calle.
6 Acuérdate de Él antes que se rompa[c] el hilo de plata,
se quiebre el cuenco de oro(J),
se rompa el cántaro junto a la fuente,
y se haga pedazos la rueda junto al pozo;
7 entonces volverá el polvo a la tierra como lo que era(K),
y el espíritu volverá a Dios(L) que lo dio(M).
8 Vanidad de vanidades, dice el Predicador, todo es vanidad(N).
Conclusión
9 El Predicador, además de ser sabio, enseñó también sabiduría al pueblo; y ponderó, investigó y compuso muchos proverbios(O). 10 El Predicador trató de encontrar palabras agradables(P), y de escribir correctamente palabras de verdad(Q).
11 Las palabras de los sabios(R) son como aguijones(S), y como clavos(T) bien clavados las de los maestros de colecciones, dadas por un Pastor. 12 Pero además de esto, hijo mío, estate prevenido: el hacer muchos libros no tiene fin(U), y demasiada dedicación a ellos es fatiga del cuerpo[d](V).
13 La conclusión, cuando todo se ha oído, es esta:
teme a Dios(W) y guarda sus mandamientos(X),
porque esto concierne a toda persona(Y).
14 Porque Dios traerá toda obra a juicio,
junto con todo lo oculto,
sea bueno o sea malo(Z).
Footnotes
- Eclesiastés 12:3 O, aberturas
- Eclesiastés 12:5 O, y se pierda el apetito
- Eclesiastés 12:6 Así en la versión gr. (sept.); en heb., sea quitado
- Eclesiastés 12:12 Lit., de la carne
Ecclesiastes 12
King James Version
12 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,
4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;
5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:
6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.
7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
8 Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.
9 And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Ecclesiastes 12
New Living Translation
12 Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.” 2 Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky. 3 Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop. Remember him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—stop grinding; and before your eyes—the women looking through the windows—see dimly.
4 Remember him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades. Now you rise at the first chirping of the birds, but then all their sounds will grow faint.
5 Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper, and the caperberry no longer inspires sexual desire. Remember him before you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral.
6 Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. 7 For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.
Concluding Thoughts about the Teacher
8 “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless.”
9 Keep this in mind: The Teacher was considered wise, and he taught the people everything he knew. He listened carefully to many proverbs, studying and classifying them. 10 The Teacher sought to find just the right words to express truths clearly.[a]
11 The words of the wise are like cattle prods—painful but helpful. Their collected sayings are like a nail-studded stick with which a shepherd[b] drives the sheep.
12 But, my child,[c] let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out.
13 That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. 14 God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.
Ecclesiastes 12
Legacy Standard Bible
Remember Your Creator in Your Youth
12 (A)Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the (B)evil days happen and the years draw near in which you will say, “I have no delight in them”; 2 before the (C)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 valiant men (D)bend down, the grinding ones stand idle because they are few, and (E)those who look through [a]windows grow dark; 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 [b]sing softly. 5 Furthermore, [c]men are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road; the almond tree blooms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caperberry is ineffective. For man goes to his eternal (H)home, but the (I)mourners go about in the street. 6 Remember Him before the silver [d]cord is [e]snapped and the (J)golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the spring is broken and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; 7 then the (K)dust will return to the earth as it was, and the [f](L)spirit will return to (M)God who gave it. 8 “(N)Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “all is vanity!”
Fear God and Keep His Commandments
9 In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out, and [g]arranged (O)many proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find (P)delightful words and (Q)words of truth written uprightly.
11 The (R)words of wise men are like (S)goads, and masters of these collections are like [h]well-driven (T)nails; they are given by one Shepherd. 12 But in addition to this, my son, be warned: the making of (U)many books is endless, and much (V)devotion to books is wearying to the flesh.
13 The end of the matter, all that has been heard: (W)fear God and (X)keep His commandments, because this is the end of the matter for (Y)all mankind. 14 For (Z)God will bring every work to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 12:3 Or holes
- Ecclesiastes 12:4 Lit be brought low
- Ecclesiastes 12:5 Lit they
- Ecclesiastes 12:6 Or vanity
- Ecclesiastes 12:6 As in Gr; Heb removed
- Ecclesiastes 12:7 Or breath
- Ecclesiastes 12:9 Lit set straight
- Ecclesiastes 12:11 Lit planted
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