| International Standard Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 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 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, the moon and the stars are darkened, and 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 that the watchmen of the house tremble, and mighty men stoop, the grinding ones stand idle because they are few, and those who look through windows grow dim; |
| 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 as the sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the daughters of song will sing softly. |
| 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. | 5Furthermore, men are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags himself along, and the caperberry is ineffective. For man goes to his eternal home while mourners go about 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, | 6Remember Him before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; |
| 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. | 7then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. |
| 8"Utterly pointless," says the Teacher. "Everything is pointless." | 8"Vanity 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. | 9In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out and arranged many proverbs. |
| 10The Teacher searched to find appropriate expressions, and what is written here is right and truthful. | 10The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly. |
| 11Sayings from the wise are like cattle prods and well fastened nails; this masterful collection was given by one shepherd. | 11The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; 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. | 12But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to 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. | 13The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. |
| 14For God will judge every deed, along with every secret, whether good or evil. | 14For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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