Ecclesiastes 12 NKJV NIV Parallel

◄ Ecclesiastes 12 ►

NKJV Parallel NIV [BSB CSB ESV HCS KJV ISV NAS NET NIV NLT HEB]

New King James Version

New International Version

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 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"--

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 and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the 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;

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 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.

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;

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.

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 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 severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel broken at the well,

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

8“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “All is vanity.”

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

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 imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.

10The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright—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 words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd.

11The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails--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. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.

13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.

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 work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.

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

New International Version (NIV)

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