| International Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 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," | 1So remember your Creator in the days of your youth: Before the days of adversity come, and the years approach when you will say," I have no delight 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 are darkened, and the moon and the stars, 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. | 3on the day when the guardians of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, the women who grind cease because they are few, and the ones who watch through the windows see dimly, |
| 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. | 4the doors at the street are shut while the sound of the mill fades; when one rises at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song grow faint. |
| 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. | 5Also, they are afraid of heights and dangers on the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper loses its spring, and the caper berry has no effect; for man is headed to his eternal home, and mourners will walk around in the street; |
| 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, and the gold bowl is broken, and the jar is shattered at the spring, and the wheel is broken into the well; |
| 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 once was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it." |
| 8"Utterly pointless," says the Teacher. "Everything is pointless." | 8Absolute futility," says the Teacher. "Everything is futile." |
| 9Moreover, besides being wise himself, the Teacher taught people what he had learned by listening, making inquiries, and composing many proverbs. | 9In addition to the Teacher being a wise man, he constantly taught the people knowledge; he weighed, explored, and arranged many proverbs. |
| 10The Teacher searched to find appropriate expressions, and what is written here is right and truthful. | 10The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and write words of truth accurately. |
| 11Sayings from the wise are like cattle prods and well fastened nails; this masterful collection was given by one shepherd. | 11The sayings of the wise are like goads, and those from masters of collections are like firmly embedded nails. The sayings 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. | 12But beyond these, my son, be warned: there is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body. |
| 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. | 13When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is: fear God and keep His commands, because this is for all humanity. |
| 14For God will judge every deed, along with every secret, whether good or evil. | 14For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil. |
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