Ecclesiastes 12

1Remember 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 these days and years”; # 2Sa 19:35; Ecc 11:8

2before the sun and the light,

the moon and the stars are darkened,

and the clouds leave after the rain;

3in the day when those watching the house tremble,

and the strong men are bent over,

and the grinding teeth cease because they are few,

and those looking through the windows have dimmed eyes;

4and the doors on the street are shut,

and the sound of grinding teeth is less;

and awakened, one gets up at the sound of a bird,

and the melodious songs are faint from diminished hearing; # Jer 25:10

5when they fear heights,

even the terrors along the road;

the almond tree blossoms white,

and the grasshopper is burdened down,

and the aphrodisiac caper-berry plant fails,

because a person is going to his eternal home, # Job 17:13; 30:23

and the mourners are throughout the streets;

6before the silver cord is snapped,

and the golden bowl is smashed,

and the jar by the spring is broken

and the wheel at the cistern is crushed,

7and the dust returns to the earth as it was, # Ge 3:19

and the life breath returns to God who gave it. # Zec 12:1

8“Vanity of vanities,” says the Teacher,

“everything is vanity!” # Ecc 1:2

The Conclusion of the Matter

9In addition to being wise, the Teacher still taught the people knowledge, by weighing, studying, and arranging many proverbs. # 1Ki 4:32; Pr 10:1; 25:1 10Qoheleth sought to find pleasing words, and to write words of truth plainly.

11The words of the wise are like iron-tipped goads, and like well-driven nails are the collected sayings that are given by one shepherd. # Ps 80:1 12Beyond these, my son, be warned.

There is no end of making many books, and much study is a weariness of the body. # Ecc 1:18

13This is the end of the matter;

all has been heard.

Now fear God and keep His commandments,

for this is the duty of all mankind. # Dt 10:12

14For God will bring every deed into judgment,

with every secret thing,

whether good or evil. # Ecc 11:9; 1Co 4:5

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The Holy Bible, Modern English Version

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Ecclesiastes 12

1So remember your Creator#12.1 The Hebrew expression for your Creator sounds like the Hebrew for your grave. while you are still young, before those dismal days and years come when you will say, “I don't enjoy life.” 2That is when the light of the sun, the moon, and the stars will grow dim for you, and the rain clouds will never pass away. 3Then your arms, that have protected you, will tremble, and your legs, now strong, will grow weak. Your teeth will be too few to chew your food, and your eyes too dim to see clearly. 4Your ears will be deaf to the noise of the street. You will barely be able to hear the mill as it grinds or music as it plays, but even the song of a bird will wake you from sleep. 5You will be afraid of high places, and walking will be dangerous. Your hair will turn white; you will hardly be able to drag yourself along, and all desire will have gone.

We are going to our final resting place, and then there will be mourning in the streets. 6The silver chain will snap, and the golden lamp will fall and break; the rope at the well will break, and the water jar will be shattered. 7Our bodies will return to the dust of the earth, and the breath of life will go back to God, who gave it to us.

8Useless, useless, said the Philosopher. It is all useless.

The Summing Up

9But because the Philosopher was wise, he kept on teaching the people what he knew. He studied proverbs and honestly tested their truth. 10The Philosopher tried to find comforting words, but the words he wrote were honest. 11The sayings of the wise are like the sharp sticks that shepherds use to guide sheep, and collected proverbs are as lasting as firmly driven nails. They have been given by God, the one Shepherd of us all.

12My child, there is something else to watch out for. There is no end to the writing of books, and too much study will wear you out.

13After all this, there is only one thing to say: have reverence for God, and obey his commands, because this is all that human beings were created for. 14God is going to judge everything we do, whether good or bad, even things done in secret.

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