| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 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”: | 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"; |
| 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 of the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds disappear 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; | 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, |
| 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 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 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. | 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-- |
| 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. | 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-- |
| 7Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return 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“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “All is vanity.” | 8"Absolutely futile!" laments the Teacher, "All of these things are futile!" |
| 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. | 9Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught knowledge to the people; he carefully evaluated and arranged many proverbs. |
| 10The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright—words of truth. | 10The Teacher sought to find delightful words, and to write accurately truthful sayings. |
| 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 the sages are like prods, and the collected sayings are like firmly fixed 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. | 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. |
| 13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. | 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 work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil. | 14For God will evaluate every deed, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. |
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