Eccl.12.1
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;
Eccl.12.1
Honor and enjoy your Creator while you're still young, Before the years take their toll and your vigor wanes,
Eccl.12.1
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"-
Eccl.12.1
Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, "I have no pleasure in them":
Eccl.12.1
Don't let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and no longer enjoy living.
Eccl.12.2
While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
Eccl.12.2
Before your vision dims and the world blurs And the winter years keep you close to the fire.
Eccl.12.2
before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain;
Eccl.12.2
While the sun and the light, The moon and the stars, Are not darkened, And the clouds do not return after the rain;
Eccl.12.2
It will be too late then to remember him, when the light of the sun and moon and stars is dim to your old eyes, and there is no silver lining left among the clouds.
Eccl.12.3
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,
Eccl.12.3
In old age, your body no longer serves you so well. Muscles slacken, grip weakens, joints stiffen. The shades are pulled down on the world.
Eccl.12.3
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;
Eccl.12.3
In the day when the keepers of the house tremble, And the strong men bow down; When the grinders cease because they are few, And those that look through the windows grow dim;
Eccl.12.3
Your limbs will tremble with age, and your strong legs will grow weak. Your teeth will be too few to do their work, and you will be blind, too.
Eccl.12.4
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;
Eccl.12.4
You can't come and go at will. Things grind to a halt. The hum of the household fades away. You are wakened now by bird-song.
Eccl.12.4
when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when men rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint;
Eccl.12.4
When the doors are shut in the streets, And the sound of grinding is low; When one rises up at the sound of a bird, And all the daughters of music are brought low.
Eccl.12.4
And when your teeth are gone, keep your lips tightly closed when you eat! Even the chirping of birds will wake you up. But you yourself will be deaf and tuneless, with a quavering voice.
Eccl.12.5
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:
Eccl.12.5
Hikes to the mountains are a thing of the past. Even a stroll down the road has its terrors. Your hair turns apple-blossom white, Adorning a fragile and impotent matchstick body. Yes, you're well on your way to eternal rest, While your friends make plans for your funeral.
Eccl.12.5
when men are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags himself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then man goes to his eternal home and mourners go about the streets.
Eccl.12.5
Also they are afraid of height, And of terrors in the way; When the almond tree blossoms, The grasshopper is a burden, And desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home, And the mourners go about the streets.
Eccl.12.5
You will be afraid of heights and of falling, white-haired and withered, dragging along without any sexual desire. You will be standing at death's door. And as you near your everlasting home, the mourners will walk along the streets.
Eccl.12.6
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.
Eccl.12.6
Life, lovely while it lasts, is soon over. Life as we know it, precious and beautiful, ends.
Eccl.12.6
Remember him-before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well,
Eccl.12.6
Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the well.
Eccl.12.6
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.
Eccl.12.7
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Eccl.12.7
The body is put back in the same ground it came from. The spirit returns to God, who first breathed it.
Eccl.12.7
and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
Eccl.12.7
Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it.
Eccl.12.7
For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.
Eccl.12.8
Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.
Eccl.12.8
It's all smoke, nothing but smoke. The Quester says that everything's smoke.
Eccl.12.8
"Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Everything is meaningless!"
Eccl.12.8
"Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "All is vanity."
Eccl.12.8
"All is meaningless," says the Teacher, "utterly meaningless."
Eccl.12.9
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.
Eccl.12.9
Besides being wise himself, the Quester also taught others knowledge. He weighed, examined, and arranged many proverbs.
Eccl.12.9
Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.
Eccl.12.9
And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs.
Eccl.12.9
Because the Teacher was wise, he taught the people everything he knew. He collected proverbs and classified them.
Eccl.12.10
The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
Eccl.12.10
The Quester did his best to find the right words and write the plain truth.
Eccl.12.10
The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.
Eccl.12.10
The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright--words of truth.
Eccl.12.10
Indeed, the Teacher taught the plain truth, and he did so in an interesting way.
Eccl.12.11
The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
Eccl.12.11
The words of the wise prod us to live well. They're like nails hammered home, holding life together. They are given by God, the one Shepherd.
Eccl.12.11
The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails-given by one Shepherd.
Eccl.12.11
The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd.
Eccl.12.11
A wise teacher's words spur students to action and emphasize important truths. The collected sayings of the wise are like guidance from a shepherd.
Eccl.12.12
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.
Eccl.12.12
But regarding anything beyond this, dear friend, go easy. There's no end to the publishing of books, and constant study wears you out so you're no good for anything else.
Eccl.12.12
Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.
Eccl.12.12
And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh.
Eccl.12.12
But, my child, be warned: There is no end of opinions ready to be expressed. Studying them can go on forever and become very exhausting!
Eccl.12.13
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Eccl.12.13
The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what he tells you.
Eccl.12.13
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
Eccl.12.13
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all.
Eccl.12.13
Here is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is the duty of every person.
Eccl.12.14
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Eccl.12.14
And that's it. Eventually God will bring everything that we do out into the open and judge it according to its hidden intent, whether it's good or evil.
Eccl.12.14
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
Eccl.12.14
For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.
Eccl.12.14
God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.
