Ecclesiastes 12 NIV HCSB Parallel

◄ Ecclesiastes 12 ►

NIV Parallel HCSB [BSB CSB ESV HCS KJV ISV NAS NET NIV NLT HEB]

New International Version

Holman Christian Standard Bible

1Remember 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"--

1So remember your Creator in the days of your youth: Before the days of adversity come, and the years approach when you will say," I have no delight in them";

2before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain;

2before the sun and the light are darkened, and the moon and the stars, and the clouds return after the rain;

3when 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;

3on the day when the guardians of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, the women who grind cease because they are few, and the ones who watch through the windows see dimly,

4when 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;

4the doors at the street are shut while the sound of the mill fades; when one rises at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song grow faint.

5when 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 and mourners go about the streets.

5Also, they are afraid of heights and dangers on the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper loses its spring, and the caper berry has no effect; for man is headed to his eternal home, and mourners will walk around in the street;

6Remember him--before the silver cord is severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel broken at the well,

6before the silver cord is snapped, and the gold bowl is broken, and the jar is shattered at the spring, and the wheel is broken into the well;

7and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

7and the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it."

8"Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Everything is meaningless!"

8Absolute futility," says the Teacher. "Everything is futile."

9Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.

9In addition to the Teacher being a wise man, he constantly taught the people knowledge; he weighed, explored, and arranged many proverbs.

10The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.

10The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and write words of truth accurately.

11The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails--given by one shepherd.

11The sayings of the wise are like goads, and those from masters of collections are like firmly embedded nails. The sayings are given by one Shepherd.

12Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.

12But beyond these, my son, be warned: there is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.

13Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.

13When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is: fear God and keep His commands, because this is for all humanity.

14For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

14For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.

New International Version (NIV)

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