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
Common English Bible
7 Sweet is the light, and it’s pleasant for the eyes to see the sun. 8 Even those who live many years should take pleasure in them all. But they should be mindful that there will also be many dark days. Everything that happens is pointless.
9 Rejoice, young person, while you are young! Your heart should make you happy in your prime. Follow your heart’s inclinations and whatever your eyes see, but know this: God will call you to account for all of these things. 10 Remove anxiety from your heart, banish pain from your body, because youth and the dawn of life are pointless too.
Troubling days to come
12 Remember your creator in your prime,
before the days of trouble arrive,
and those years, about which you’ll say, “I take no pleasure in these”—
2 before the sun and the light grow dark, the moon and the stars too,
before the clouds return after the rain;
3 on the day when the housekeepers tremble and the strong men stoop;
when the women who grind stop working because they’re so few,
and those who look through the windows grow dim;
4 when the doors to the street are shut,
when the sound of the mill fades,
the sound of the bird rises,
and all the singers come down low;
5 when people are afraid of things above
and of terrors along the way;
when the almond tree blanches, the locust droops,
and the caper-berry comes to nothing;[a]
when the human goes to the eternal abode,
with mourners all around in the street;
6 before the silver cord snaps and the gold bowl shatters;
the jar is broken at the spring and the wheel is crushed at the pit;
7 before dust returns to the earth as it was before
and the life-breath returns to God who gave it.
Motto and conclusion
8 Perfectly pointless, says the Teacher, everything is pointless.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 12:5 Heb uncertain
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible