Ecclesiastes 12 - Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Twilight of Life

12 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”;
2 before the sun and the light are darkened,(B)
and the moon and the stars,
and the clouds return after[a] the rain;
3 on the day when the guardians of the house tremble,
and the strong men stoop,
the women who grind grain cease because they are few,
and the ones who watch through the windows see dimly,(C)
4 the doors at the street are shut
while the sound of the mill fades;(D)
when one rises at the sound of a bird,
and all the daughters of song grow faint.
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 the mere mortal is headed to his eternal home,(E)
and mourners will walk around in the street;(F)
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;
7 and the dust returns to the earth as it once was,
and the spirit returns to God who gave it.(H)

8 “Absolute futility,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile.”(I)

The Teacher’s Objectives and Conclusion

9 In addition to the Teacher being a wise man, he constantly taught the people knowledge; he weighed, explored, and arranged many proverbs.(J) 10 The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and write words of truth accurately. 11 The sayings of the wise are like cattle prods,(K) and those from masters of collections are like firmly embedded nails.(L) The sayings are given by one Shepherd.[d]

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) 13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God(O) and keep his commands, because this is for all[e] humanity.(P) 14 For God will bring every act to judgment,(Q) including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.

Footnotes

  1. 12:2 Or with
  2. 12:5 Or grasshopper is weighed down, or grasshopper drags itself along
  3. 12:6 Alt Hb tradition reads removed
  4. 12:11 Or by a shepherd
  5. 12:13 Or is the whole duty of

Cross references

  1. 12:1 : Ec 11:8
  2. 12:2 : Is 5:30; Ezk 32:7–8
  3. 12:3 : Gn 27:1; 48:10; 1Sm 3:2
  4. 12:4 : Jr 25:10; Rv 18:22
  5. 12:5 : Jb 17:13; 30:23
  6. 12:5 : Jr 9:17
  7. 12:6 : Zch 4:2–3
  8. 12:7 : Gn 2:7; 3:19; Ec 3:21
  9. 12:8 : Ec 1:2
  10. 12:9 : 1Kg 4:32; Pr 1:1
  11. 12:11 : Pr 1:6; 22:17
  12. 12:11 : Ezr 9:8; Is 22:23
  13. 12:12 : 1Kg 4:32–33; Jn 21:25
  14. 12:12 : Ec 1:18
  15. 12:13 : Pr 1:7; Ec 3:14; 5:7; 7:18; 8:12–13
  16. 12:13 : Ps 97:5; Ac 4:12; Rm 10:12
  17. 12:14 : Ec 3:17; 11:9; Rv 20:12

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12 Remember also thy Creators in days of thy youth, While that the evil days come not, Nor the years have arrived, that thou sayest, `I have no pleasure in them.' 2 While that the sun is not darkened, and the light, And the moon, and the stars, And the thick clouds returned after the rain. 3 In the ...
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Ecclesiastes 12 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

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Ecclesiastes 12 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

12 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain; 3 in the day when the keepers o...
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Ecclesiastes 12 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

12 Remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return with[a] the rain; 3 in the day when the guards of ...
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Ecclesiastes 12 - New Life Version (NLV)

12 Remember also your Maker while you are young, before the days of trouble come and the years when you will say, “I have no joy in them,” 2 before the sun, the light, the moon and the stars are made dark, and clouds return after the rain. 3 This will be the day when the men who watch the house sh...
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Ecclesiastes 12 - New King James Version (NKJV)

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Ecclesiastes 12 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

12 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, ‘I find no pleasure in them’–2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain;3 when the keepers of the house tremble,...
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