| Christian Standard Bible | NET Bible |
| 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"; | 1So remember your Creator in the days of your youth--before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you will say, "I have no pleasure in them"; |
| 2before the sun and the light are darkened, and the moon and the stars, and the clouds return after the rain; | 2before the sun and the light of the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds disappear after the rain; |
| 3on the day when the guardians of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, the women who grind grain cease because they are few, and the ones who watch through the windows see dimly, | 3when those who keep watch over the house begin to tremble, and the virile men begin to stoop over, and the grinders begin to cease because they grow few, and those who look through the windows grow dim, |
| 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. | 4and the doors along the street are shut; when the sound of the grinding mill grows low, and one is awakened by the sound of a bird, and all their songs grow faint, |
| 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 the mere mortal is headed to his eternal home, and mourners will walk around in the street; | 5and they are afraid of heights and the dangers in the street; the almond blossoms grow white, and the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caper berry shrivels up--because man goes to his eternal home, and the mourners go about in the streets-- |
| 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; | 6before the silver cord is removed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the well, or the water wheel is broken at the cistern-- |
| 7and the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. | 7and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the life's breath returns to God who gave it. |
| 8"Absolute futility," says the Teacher. "Everything is futile." | 8"Absolutely futile!" laments the Teacher, "All of these things are futile!" |
| 9In addition to the Teacher being a wise man, he constantly taught the people knowledge; he weighed, explored, and arranged many proverbs. | 9Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught knowledge to the people; he carefully evaluated and arranged many proverbs. |
| 10The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and write words of truth accurately. | 10The Teacher sought to find delightful words, and to write accurately truthful sayings. |
| 11The sayings of the wise are like cattle prods, and those from masters of collections are like firmly embedded nails. The sayings are given by one Shepherd. | 11The words of the sages are like prods, and the collected sayings are like firmly fixed nails; they are given by one shepherd. |
| 12But beyond these, my son, be 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. There is no end to the making of many books, and much study is exhausting to the body. |
| 13When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity. | 13Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man. |
| 14For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil. | 14For God will evaluate every deed, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. |
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