Ecclesiastes 12:1

AMP: Remember [thoughtfully] also your Creator in the days of your youth [for you are not your own, but His], before the evil days come or the years draw near when you will say [of physical pleasures], “I have no enjoyment and delight in them”; [2 Sam 19:35]

ASV: Remember also thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

BSB: Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,before the days of adversity comeand the years approach of which you will say,“I find no pleasure in them,”

DARBY: And remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, of which thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

DRA: Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the time of affliction come, and the years draw nigh of which thou shalt say: They please me not:

KJV: 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;

Ecclesiastes 12:2

AMP: 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];

ASV: before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars, are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;

BSB: before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened,and the clouds return after the rain,

DARBY: before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars, be darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;

DRA: Before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars be darkened, and the clouds return after the rain:

KJV: While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:

Ecclesiastes 12:3

AMP: 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;

ASV: 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 shall be darkened,

BSB: on the day the keepers of the house trembleand the strong men stoop,when those grinding cease because they are fewand those watching through windows see dimly,

DARBY: in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows are darkened,

DRA: When the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall stagger, and the grinders shall be idle in a small number, and they that look through the holes shall be darkened:

KJV: 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,

Ecclesiastes 12:4

AMP: 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.

ASV: and 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;

BSB: when the doors to the street are shutand the sound of the mill fades away,when one rises at the sound of a birdand all the daughters of song grow faint,

DARBY: and the doors are shut toward the street; when the sound of the grinding is subdued, and they rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low;

DRA: And they shall shut the doors in the street, when the grinder's voice shall be low, and they shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall grow deaf.

KJV: 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;

Ecclesiastes 12:5

AMP: 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 caperberry (desire, appetite) fails. For man goes to his eternal home and the mourners go about the streets and market places. [Job 17:13]

ASV: yea, they shall be afraid of [that which is] high, and terrors [shall be] in the way; and the almond-tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goeth to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets:

BSB: when 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 homeand mourners walk the streets.

DARBY: they are also afraid of what is high, and terrors are in the way, and the almond is despised, and the grasshopper is a burden, and the caper-berry is without effect; (for man goeth to his age-long home, and the mourners go about the streets;)

DRA: And they shall fear high things, and they shall be afraid in the way, the almond tree shall flourish, the locust shall be made fat, and the caper tree shall be destroyed: because man shall go into the house of his eternity, and the mourners shall go round about in the street.

KJV: 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:

Ecclesiastes 12:6

AMP: 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;

ASV: before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern,

BSB: Remember Him before the silver cord is snappedand the golden bowl is crushed,before the pitcher is shattered at the springand the wheel is broken at the well,

DARBY: before the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be shattered at the fountain, or the wheel be broken at the cistern;

DRA: Before the silver cord be broken, and the golden fillet shrink back, and the pitcher be crushed at the fountain, and the wheel be broken upon the cistern,

KJV: 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.

Ecclesiastes 12:7

AMP: 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.

ASV: and the dust returneth to the earth as it was, and the spirit returneth unto God who gave it.

BSB: before the dust returns to the ground from which it cameand the spirit returns to God who gave it.

DARBY: and the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit return unto God who gave it.

DRA: And the dust return into its earth, from whence it was, and the spirit return to God, who gave it.

KJV: Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Ecclesiastes 12:8

AMP: “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity (futility).” [Eccl 1:2; Rom 8:20]

ASV: Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.

BSB: “Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher.“Everything is futile!”

DARBY: Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher: all is vanity.

DRA: Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, and all things are vanity.

KJV: Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 12:9

AMP: Furthermore, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; and he pondered and searched out and arranged many proverbs.

ASV: And further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he pondered, and sought out, [and] set in order many proverbs.

BSB: Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.

DARBY: And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, and sought out, [and] set in order many proverbs.

DRA: And whereas Ecclesiastes was very wise, he taught the people, and declared the things that he had done: and seeking out, he set forth many parables.

KJV: 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.

Ecclesiastes 12:10

AMP: The Preacher sought to find delightful words, even to write correctly words of truth.

ASV: The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written uprightly, [even] words of truth.

BSB: The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.

DARBY: The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words; and that which was written is upright, words of truth.

DRA: He sought profitable words, and wrote words most right, and full of truth.

KJV: The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.

Ecclesiastes 12:11

AMP: The words of the wise are like [prodding] goads, and these collected sayings are [firmly fixed in the mind] like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. [Ezek 37:24]

ASV: The words of the wise are as goads; and as nails well fastened are [the words of] the masters of assemblies, [which] are given from one shepherd.

BSB: The words of the wise are like goads, and the anthologies of the masters are like firmly embedded nails driven by a single Shepherd.

DARBY: The words of the wise are as goads, and the collections [of them] as nails fastened in: they are given from one shepherd.

DRA: The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails deeply fastened in, which by the counsel of masters are given from one shepherd.

KJV: The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

Ecclesiastes 12:12

AMP: 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.

ASV: And furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

BSB: And by these, my son, be further warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.

DARBY: And besides, my son, be warned by them: of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

DRA: More than these, my son, require not. Of making many books there is no end: and much study is an affliction of the flesh.

KJV: 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.

Ecclesiastes 12:13

AMP: 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.

ASV: [This is] the end of the matter; all hath been heard: fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole [duty] of man.

BSB: When 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.

DARBY: Let us hear the end of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole of man.

DRA: Let us all hear together the conclusion of the discourse. Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is all man:

KJV: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Ecclesiastes 12:14

AMP: For God will bring every act to judgment, every hidden and secret thing, whether it is good or evil. [Matt 12:36; Acts 17:30, 31; Rom 2:16; 1 Cor 4:5]

ASV: For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

BSB: For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.

DARBY: For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil.

DRA: And all things that are done, God will bring into judgment for every error, whether it be good or evil.

KJV: For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Ecclesiastes 12

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