Ecclesiastes 12
12
1Keep your Creator in mind while you are young! In years to come, you will be burdened down with troubles and say, “I don't enjoy life anymore.”
2Someday the light of the sun
and the moon and the stars
will all seem dim to you.
Rain clouds will remain
over your head.
3Your body will grow feeble,
your teeth will decay,
and your eyesight fail.
4The noisy grinding of grain
and the voices of singers
will be shut out
by your deaf ears,
but even the song of a bird
will keep you awake.#12.4 but even the song … awake: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
5You will be afraid
to climb up a hill
or walk down a road.
Your hair will turn as white
as almond blossoms.
You will feel lifeless
and drag along
like an old grasshopper.
We each go to our eternal home,
and the streets here are filled
with those who mourn.
6The silver cord snaps,
the golden bowl breaks;
the water pitcher is smashed,
and the pulley at the well
is shattered.
7So our bodies return
to the earth,
and the life-giving breath#12.7 life-giving breath: Or “spirit.”
returns to God.
8Nothing makes sense.
I have seen it all—
nothing makes sense.
Respect and Obey God
9I was a wise teacher with much understanding, and I collected a number of proverbs that I had carefully studied. 10Then I tried to explain these things in the best and most accurate way.
11Words of wisdom are like the stick a farmer uses to make animals move. These sayings come from a shepherd,#12.11 a shepherd: This may be a reference to God as shepherd (see also Psalm 23.1). and they are like nails that fasten things together.#12.11 These sayings … together: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. 12My child, I warn you to stay away from any teachings except these.
There is no end to books,
and too much study
will wear you out.
13Everything you were taught can be put into a few words:
Respect and obey God!
This is what life
is all about.
14God will judge
everything we do,
even what is done in secret,
whether good or bad.
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Ecclesiastes 12: CEVDCI
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
Qoheleth (Ecclesiastes) 12
12
1Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them”:
2Before the sun and the light, the moon and the stars, are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;
3in the day when the guards of the house tremble, and the strong men shall bow down; when the grinders shall cease because they are few, and those that look through the windows shall become dim;
4and the doors shall be shut in the streets, and the sound of grinding is low; and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are bowed down;
5furthermore, they are afraid of what is high, and of low places in the way; and the almond tree blossoms, and the grasshopper becomes a burden, and desire perishes. For man is going to his everlasting home, and the mourners shall go about the streets.
6Remember Him before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the jar shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the well,
7and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to Elohim who gave it.
8“Futility! Futility!” said the Qoheleth, “All is futile.”
9And besides being wise, Qoheleth also taught the people knowledge, and he listened and sought out – set in order many proverbs.
10Qoheleth sought to find out words of delight, and words of truth, rightly written.
11The words of the wise are like goads, and as nails driven by the masters of collections – they were given by one Shepherd.
12And besides these, my son, be warned – the making of many books has no end, and much study is a wearying of the flesh.
13Let us hear the conclusion of the entire matter: Fear Elohim and guard His commands, for this applies to all mankind!
14For Elohim shall bring every work into right-ruling, including all that is hidden, whether good or whether evil.
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