| NET Bible | English Standard Version |
| 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"; | 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”; |
| 2before the sun and the light of the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds disappear 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 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, | 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, |
| 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, | 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— |
| 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-- | 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— |
| 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-- | 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, |
| 7and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the life's breath returns to God who gave it. | 7and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. |
| 8"Absolutely futile!" laments the Teacher, "All of these things are futile!" | 8Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity. |
| 9Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught knowledge to the people; he carefully evaluated and arranged many proverbs. | 9Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. |
| 10The Teacher sought to find delightful words, and to write accurately truthful sayings. | 10The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. |
| 11The words of the sages are like prods, and the collected sayings are like firmly fixed nails; they are 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. |
| 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. | 12My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. |
| 13Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man. | 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 evaluate every deed, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. | 14For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. |
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