| New King James Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1Remember 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”: | 1Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, "I have no delight in them"; |
| 2While the sun and the light, The moon and the stars, Are not darkened, And the clouds do not return after the rain; | 2before the sun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain; |
| 3In 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; | 3in the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, and mighty men stoop, the grinding ones stand idle because they are few, and those who look through windows grow dim; |
| 4When 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. | 4and the doors on the street are shut as the sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the daughters of song will sing softly. |
| 5Also 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. | 5Furthermore, men are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags himself along, and the caperberry is ineffective. For man goes to his eternal home while mourners go about in the street. |
| 6Remember 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. | 6Remember Him before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; |
| 7Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it. | 7then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. |
| 8“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “All is vanity.” | 8"Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "all is vanity!" |
| 9And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs. | 9In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out and arranged many proverbs. |
| 10The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright—words of truth. | 10The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly. |
| 11The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. | 11The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. |
| 12And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh. | 12But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body. |
| 13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. | 13The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. |
| 14For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil. | 14For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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