| Berean Study Bible | New International Version |
| 1Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of adversity come and the years approach of which you will say, “I find no pleasure in them,” | 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"-- |
| 2before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened, and the clouds return after the rain, | 2before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain; |
| 3on the day the keepers of the house tremble and the strong men stoop, when those grinding cease because they are few and those watching through windows see dimly, | 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; |
| 4when the doors to the street are shut and the sound of the mill fades away, when one rises at the sound of a bird and all the daughters of song grow faint, | 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; |
| 5when men fear the heights and dangers of the road, when the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper loses its spring, and the caper berry shrivels—for then man goes to his eternal home and mourners walk the streets. | 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. |
| 6Remember Him before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is crushed, before the pitcher is shattered at the spring and the wheel is broken at the well, | 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, |
| 7before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it. | 7and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. |
| 8“Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile!” | 8"Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Everything is meaningless!" |
| 9Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs. | 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. |
| 10The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth. | 10The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true. |
| 11The words of the wise are like goads, and the anthologies of the masters are like firmly embedded nails driven by a single Shepherd. | 11The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails--given by one shepherd. |
| 12And by these, my son, be further warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body. | 12Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. |
| 13When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man. | 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. |
| 14For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil. | 14For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. |
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