1 Remember 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;
1 (A)Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the (B)evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no delight in them”;
1 So remember your Creator in the days of your youth:Before the days of adversity come,and the years approach when you will say,(A)“I have no delight in them”;
1 So 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,"
2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
2 before the (C)sun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain;
2 before the sun and the light are darkened,(B)and the moon and the stars,and the clouds return after(a) the rain;
2 Otherwise, when the sun, daylight, moon, or stars turn dark, or when clouds fail to return after the rain
2 before the sun and the light, and the moon and the stars are darkened [by impaired vision], and the clouds [of depression] return after the rain [of tears];
3 In 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,
3 in the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, and mighty men (D)stoop, the grinding ones stand idle because they are few, and (E)those who look through (a)windows grow dim;
3 on the day when the guardians of the house tremble,and the strong men stoop,the women who grind cease because they are few,and the ones who watch through the windows see dimly,(C)
3 when 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.
3 in the day when the keepers of the house (hands, arms) tremble, and the strong men (feet, knees) bow themselves, and the grinders (molar teeth) cease because they are few, and those (eyes) who look through the windows grow dim;
4 And 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;
4 and the doors on the street are shut as the (F)sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the (G)daughters of song will (b)sing softly.
4 the doors at the street are shutwhile the sound of the mill fades;(D)when one rises at the sound of a bird,and all the daughters of song grow faint.
4 The 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.
4 when the doors (lips) are shut in the streets and the sound of the grinding [of the teeth] is low, and one rises at the sound of a bird and the crowing of a rooster, and all the daughters of music (voice, ears) sing softly.
5 Also 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:
5 Furthermore, (c)men are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags himself along, and the caperberry is ineffective. For man goes to his eternal (H)home while (I)mourners go about in the street.
5 Also, they are afraid of heights and dangers on the road;the almond tree blossoms,the grasshopper loses its spring,(b)and the caper berry has no effect;for man is headed to his eternal home,(E)and mourners will walk around in the street;(F)
5 At 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.
5 Furthermore, they are afraid of a high place and of dangers on the road; the almond tree (hair) blossoms [white], and the grasshopper (a little thing) is a burden, and the (a)caperberry (desire, appetite) fails. For man goes to his eternal home and the mourners go about the streets and market places.(B)
6 Or 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.
6 Remember Him before the silver cord is (d)broken and the (J)golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed;
6 before the silver cord is snapped,(c)and the gold bowl is broken,(G)and the jar is shattered at the spring,and the wheel is broken into the well;
6 When 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,
6 Earnestly remember your Creator before the silver cord [of life] is broken, or the golden bowl is crushed, or the pitcher at the fountain is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed;
7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
7 then the (K)dust will return to the earth as it was, and the (e)(L)spirit will return to (M)God who gave it.
7 then 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.
7 then the dust [out of which God made man’s body] will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.
9 And 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.
9 In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out and arranged (O)many proverbs.
9 In addition to the Teacher being a wise man, he constantly taught the people knowledge; he weighed, explored, and arranged many proverbs.(J)
9 Moreover, besides being wise himself, the Teacher taught people what he had learned by listening, making inquiries, and composing many proverbs.
9 Furthermore, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; and he pondered and searched out and arranged many proverbs.
10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
10 The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and write words of truth accurately.
10 The Teacher searched to find appropriate expressions, and what is written here is right and truthful.
10 The Preacher sought to find delightful words, even to write correctly words of truth.
11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
11 The (R)words of wise men are like (S)goads, and masters of these collections are like (f)well-driven (T)nails; they are given by one Shepherd.
11 The sayings of the wise are like goads,(K) and those from masters of collections are like firmly embedded nails.(L) The sayings are given by one Shepherd.(d)
11 Sayings from the wise are like cattle prods and well fastened nails; this masterful collection was given by one shepherd.
12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
12 But beyond this, my son, be warned: the (g)writing of (U)many books is endless, and excessive (V)devotion to books is wearying to the body.
12 But beyond these, my son, be warned: there is no end to the making of many books,(M) and much study wearies the body.(N)
12 So learn from them, my son. There is no end to the crafting of many books, and too much study wearies the body.
12 But beyond this my son, [about going further than the words given by one Shepherd], be warned: the writing of many books is endless [so do not believe everything you read], and excessive study and devotion to books is wearying to the body.
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: (W)fear God and (X)keep His commandments, because this applies to (Y)every person.
13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is: fear God(O) and keep His commands, because this is for all humanity.(P)
13 Let the conclusion of all of these thoughts be heard: Fear God and obey his commandments, for this is what it means to be human.
13 When all has been heard, the end of the matter is: fear God [worship Him with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is almighty God] and keep His commandments, for this applies to every person.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
14 For (Z)God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.
14 For God will judge every deed, along with every secret, whether good or evil.
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.
International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.
King James Version Public Domain
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