Ecclesiastes 12 NIV ISV Parallel

◄ Ecclesiastes 12 ►

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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 during your youth! Otherwise, troublesome days will come and years will creep up on you when you'll say, "I find no pleasure in them,"

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

2Otherwise, when the sun, daylight, moon, or stars turn dark, or when clouds fail to 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;

3when that day comes, the palace guards will tremble, strong men will stoop down, women grinders will cease because they are few, and the sight of those who peer through the lattice will grow dim.

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 to the street will be shut when the sound of grinding decreases, when one wakes up at the song of a bird, and all of the singing women are silenced.

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.

5At that time they will fear climbing heights and dangers along the road while the almond tree will blossom, and the grasshopper is weighed down. Desire will cease, because the person goes to his eternal home, and mourners will gather in the marketplace.

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,

6When the silver cord is severed, the golden vessel is broken, the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, and the wheel is broken at the cistern,

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

7then man's dust will go back to the earth, returning to what it was, and the spirit will return to the God who gave it.

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

8"Utterly pointless," says the Teacher. "Everything is pointless."

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.

9Moreover, besides being wise himself, the Teacher taught people what he had learned by listening, making inquiries, and composing many proverbs.

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

10The Teacher searched to find appropriate expressions, and what is written here is right and truthful.

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

11Sayings from the wise are like cattle prods and well fastened nails; this masterful collection was 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.

12So learn from them, my son. There is no end to the crafting of many books, and too 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.

13Let the conclusion of all of these thoughts be heard: Fear God and obey his commandments, for this is what it means to be human.

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

14For God will judge every deed, along with every secret, whether good or evil.

New International Version (NIV)

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