The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
New International Version NIV
1 So remember your creator while you are young, before the evil days come, and the years approach when you will say, "They no longer give me pleasure";
1
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 grow dim, also the moon and the stars; before the clouds return after the rain;
2
before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain;
3 on the day when the guards of the house are trembling, and men of courage are bent over double; when the women stop grinding grain, because there are so few; when the women at the windows can no longer see out;
3
when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim;
4 when the doors to the streets are kept shut; when the noise from the grain-mill fades; when a person is startled by the chirp of a bird, yet their singing is hard to hear;
4
when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when people rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint;
5 when they will be afraid to go up a hill, and terrors will stalk the way, even though the almond tree is in bloom; when the locust can only drag itself along, and the caper berry has no [aphrodisiac] effect -because the person is headed for his eternal home, and the mourners are already gathering in the marketplace
5
when people are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags itself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then people go to their eternal home and mourners go about the streets.
6 before the silver cord is snapped the bowl of gold is cracked, the pitcher is shattered at the spring, the pulley is broken at the cistern,
6
Remember him—before the silver cord is severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel broken at the well,
7 the dust returns to earth, as it was, and the spirit returns to God, who gave it!
7
and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8 Pointless! Meaningless! -says Kohelet, Nothing matters at all!
8
“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.“Everything is meaningless!”
9 Not only was Kohelet wise, he also taught the people what he knew; also he weighed, researched and corrected many ethical sayings.
9
Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.
10 Kohelet worked to develop an attractive writing style, in which he expressed the truth straightforwardly.
10
The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.
11 The sayings of the wise are as sharp as goads, and those given by leaders of assemblies are like well-fixed nails; [in this case,] they are presented by a single shepherd.
11
The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd.
12 In addition, my son, take heed: one can write many books - there's no end to it; and one can study so much that it wearies the flesh.
12
Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.
13 Here is the final conclusion, now that you have heard everything: fear God, and keep his mitzvot; this is what being human is all about.
13
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.
14 For God will bring to judgment everything we do, including every secret, whether good or bad. [Here is the final conclusion, now that you have heard everything: fear God, and keep his mitzvot; this is what being human is all about.]
14
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.