Ecclesiastes 12 NKJV ISV Parallel

◄ Ecclesiastes 12 ►

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New King James Version

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1Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them”:

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,"

2While the sun and the light, The moon and the stars, Are not darkened, And the clouds do not return after the rain;

2Otherwise, when the sun, daylight, moon, or stars turn dark, or when clouds fail to return after the rain—

3In the day when the keepers of the house tremble, And the strong men bow down; When the grinders cease because they are few, And those that look through the windows grow dim;

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.

4When the doors are shut in the streets, And the sound of grinding is low; When one rises up at the sound of a bird, And all the daughters of music are brought low.

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.

5Also they are afraid of height, And of terrors in the way; When the almond tree blossoms, The grasshopper is a burden, And desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home, And the mourners go about the streets.

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.

6Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the well.

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,

7Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it.

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.

8“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “All is vanity.”

8"Utterly pointless," says the Teacher. "Everything is pointless."

9And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs.

9Moreover, besides being wise himself, the Teacher taught people what he had learned by listening, making inquiries, and composing many proverbs.

10The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright—words of truth.

10The Teacher searched to find appropriate expressions, and what is written here is right and truthful.

11The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd.

11Sayings from the wise are like cattle prods and well fastened nails; this masterful collection was given by one shepherd.

12And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh.

12So learn from them, my son. There is no end to the crafting of many books, and too much study wearies the body.

13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.

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.

14For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.

14For God will judge every deed, along with every secret, whether good or evil.

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