Jubilee Bible 2000 JUB
New International Version NIV
1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth while the evil days do not come nor the years draw near when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
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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 are darkened and the clouds return after the rain:
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before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain;
3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble and the strong men shall bow themselves and the grinders cease <em>because</em> they are few and those that look out of the windows are darkened;
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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 and the doors outside shall be shut because the voice of the grinder is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird and all the daughters of song shall be humbled;
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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 <em>when</em> they shall also be afraid of <em>that which is</em> high, and fears <em>shall be</em> in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and appetite shall fail: because man goes to the home of his age, and the mourners shall go about the streets;
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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 chain is broken, and the golden bowl is broken, and the pitcher is broken at the fountain, and the wheel is broken at the cistern;
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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 and the dust returns to the earth as it was <em>before</em> and the spirit returns unto God who gave it.
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and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8 Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all <em>is</em> vanity.
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“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.“Everything is meaningless!”
9 And the wiser the preacher became that much more did he teach wisdom to the people, causing them to listen and to search <em>things</em> out, and he composed many proverbs.
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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 The preacher sought to find willing words and upright writings, <em>even</em> words of truth.
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The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.
11 The words of the wise <em>are</em> as goads and as nails hammered into place, those of the teachers of the congregations, <em>who</em> are placed under one Shepherd.
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The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd.
12 My son, in addition to this, be admonished: of making many books <em>there is</em> no end, and much study <em>is</em> a weariness of the flesh.
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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 The conclusion of the entire sermon is heard: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this <em>is</em> the whole <em>happiness</em> of man.
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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 shall bring every work to judgment with every secret thing, whether <em>it is</em> good or whether <em>it is</em> evil.
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For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010
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.