Ecclesiastes 12 Parallel Bible Translations

Ecclesiastes 12 ▼
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1 So 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|; Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; Remember 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|—
2 before the sun and the light of the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds disappear after the rain; before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain;
3 when 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, in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, when 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;
4 and 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, and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— when 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;
5 and 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-- they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— when 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.
6 before 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-- before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, Remember 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,
7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the life's breath returns to God who gave it. and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8 |Absolutely futile!| laments the Teacher, |All of these things are futile!| Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity. “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Everything is meaningless!”
9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught knowledge to the people; he carefully evaluated and arranged many proverbs. Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.
10 The Teacher sought to find delightful words, and to write accurately truthful sayings. The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.
11 The words of the sages are like prods, and the collected sayings are like firmly fixed nails; they are given by one shepherd. The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd.
12 Be 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. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.
13 Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Now 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.
14 For God will evaluate every deed, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
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