| New American Standard Bible 1995 | NET Bible |
| 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"; | 1So 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"; |
| 2before the sun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain; | 2before the sun and the light of the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds disappear after the rain; |
| 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; | 3when 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, |
| 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. | 4and 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, |
| 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. | 5and 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-- |
| 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; | 6before 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-- |
| 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 earth as it was, and the life's breath returns to God who gave it. |
| 8"Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "all is vanity!" | 8"Absolutely futile!" laments the Teacher, "All of these things are futile!" |
| 9In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out and arranged many proverbs. | 9Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught knowledge to the people; he carefully evaluated and arranged many proverbs. |
| 10The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly. | 10The Teacher sought to find delightful words, and to write accurately truthful sayings. |
| 11The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. | 11The words of the sages are like prods, and the collected sayings are like firmly fixed nails; they are given by one shepherd. |
| 12But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body. | 12Be 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. |
| 13The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. | 13Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man. |
| 14For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil. | 14For God will evaluate every deed, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. |
| 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 | NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. //netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved. |
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