| International Standard Version | English Standard Version |
| 1So remember your Creator during your youth! Otherwise, troublesome days will come and years will creep up on you when you'll say, "I find no pleasure in them," | 1Remember 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”; |
| 2Otherwise, when the sun, daylight, moon, or stars turn dark, or when clouds fail to return after the rain— | 2before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, |
| 3when that day comes, the palace guards will tremble, strong men will stoop down, women grinders will cease because they are few, and the sight of those who peer through the lattice will grow dim. | 3in 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, |
| 4The doors to the street will be shut when the sound of grinding decreases, when one wakes up at the song of a bird, and all of the singing women are silenced. | 4and 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— |
| 5At that time they will fear climbing heights and dangers along the road while the almond tree will blossom, and the grasshopper is weighed down. Desire will cease, because the person goes to his eternal home, and mourners will gather in the marketplace. | 5they 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— |
| 6When the silver cord is severed, the golden vessel is broken, the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, and the wheel is broken at the cistern, | 6before 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, |
| 7then man's dust will go back to the earth, returning to what it was, and the spirit will return to the God who gave it. | 7and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. |
| 8"Utterly pointless," says the Teacher. "Everything is pointless." | 8Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity. |
| 9Moreover, besides being wise himself, the Teacher taught people what he had learned by listening, making inquiries, and composing many proverbs. | 9Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. |
| 10The Teacher searched to find appropriate expressions, and what is written here is right and truthful. | 10The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. |
| 11Sayings from the wise are like cattle prods and well fastened nails; this masterful collection was given by one shepherd. | 11The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. |
| 12So learn from them, my son. There is no end to the crafting of many books, and too much study wearies the body. | 12My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. |
| 13Let the conclusion of all of these thoughts be heard: Fear God and obey his commandments, for this is what it means to be human. | 13The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. |
| 14For God will judge every deed, along with every secret, whether good or evil. | 14For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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