Eclesiastés 12
Berean Standard Bible
1Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of adversity come and the years approach of which you will say, “I find no pleasure in them,”
2before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened, and the clouds return after the rain,
3on the day the keepers of the house tremble and the strong men stoop, when those grinding cease because they are few and those watching through windows see dimly,
4when the doors to the street are shut and the sound of the mill fades away, when one rises at the sound of a bird and all the daughters of song grow faint,
5when men fear the heights and dangers of the road, when the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper loses its spring, and the caper berry shrivels— for then man goes to his eternal home and mourners walk the streets.
6Remember Him before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is crushed, before the pitcher is shattered at the spring and the wheel is broken at the well,
7before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8“Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile!”
9Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.
10The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.
11The words of the wise are like goads, and the anthologies of the masters are like firmly embedded nails driven by a single Shepherd.
12And by these, my son, be further warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.
13When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.
14For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
Reina-Valera 1909
1Y ACUÉRDATE de tu Criador en los días de tu juventud, antes que vengan los malos días, y lleguen los años, de los cuales digas, No tengo en ellos contentamiento;
2Antes que se oscurezca el sol, y la luz, y la luna y las estrellas, y las nubes se tornen tras la lluvia:
3Cuando temblarán los guardas de la casa, y se encorvarán los hombres fuertes, y cesarán las muelas, porque han disminuído, y se oscurecerán los que miran por las ventanas;
4Y las puertas de afuera se cerrarán, por la bajeza de la voz de la muela; y levantaráse á la voz del ave, y todas las hijas de canción serán humilladas;
5Cuando también temerán de lo alto, y los tropezones en el camino; y florecerá el almendro, y se agravará la langosta, y perderáse el apetito: porque el hombre va á la casa de su siglo, y los endechadores andarán en derredor por la plaza:
6Antes que la cadena de plata se quiebre, y se rompa el cuenco de oro, y el cántaro se quiebre junto á la fuente, y la rueda sea rota sobre el pozo;
7Y el polvo se torne á la tierra, como era, y el espíritu se vuelva á Dios que lo dió.
8Vanidad de vanidades, dijo el Predicador, todo vanidad.
9Y cuanto más sabio fué el Predicador, tanto más enseñó sabiduría al pueblo; é hizo escuchar, é hizo escudriñar, y compuso muchos proverbios.
10Procuró el Predicador hallar palabras agradables, y escritura recta, palabras de verdad.
11Las palabras de los sabios son como aguijones; y como clavos hincados, las de los maestros de las congregaciones, dadas por un Pastor.
12Ahora, hijo mío, á más de esto, sé avisado. No hay fin de hacer muchos libros; y el mucho estudio aflicción es de la carne.
13El fin de todo el discurso oído es este: Teme á Dios, y guarda sus mandamientos; porque esto es el todo del hombre.
14Porque Dios traerá toda obra á juicio, el cual se hará sobre toda cosa oculta, buena ó mala.
King James Version
1Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
2While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
3In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,
4And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;
5Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:
6Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.
7Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
8Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.
9And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
10The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
11The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
12And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
World English 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 pleasure in them;”
2Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;
3in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look out of the windows are darkened,
4and the doors shall be shut in the street; when the sound of the grinding is low, and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low;
5yes, they shall be afraid of heights, and terrors will be on the way; and the almond tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goes to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets;
6before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the spring, or the wheel broken at the cistern,
7and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All is vanity!”
9Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
10The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth.
11The words of the wise are like goads; and like nails well fastened are words from the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
12Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
13This is the 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 bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.