Parallel Bible results for "ecclesiastes 12"

Ecclesiastes 12

New Revised Standard NRS

1 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 the rain;

3 in the day when the guards of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the women who grind cease working because they are few, and those who look through the windows see dimly;

4 when the doors on the street are shut, and the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low;

5 when one is afraid of heights, and terrors are in the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along and desire fails; because all must go to their eternal home, and the mourners will go about the streets;

6 before the silver cord is snapped, and the golden bowl is broken, and the pitcher is broken at the fountain, and the wheel broken at the cistern,

7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the breath returns to God who gave it.

8 Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher; all is vanity.

9 Besides being wise, the Teacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs.

10 The Teacher sought to find pleasing words, and he wrote words of truth plainly.

11 The sayings of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings that are given by one shepherd.

12 Of anything beyond these, my child, beware. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone.

14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.

The Message Bible MSG

1 onor and enjoy your Creator while you're still young, Before the years take their toll and your vigor wanes,

2 Before your vision dims and the world blurs And the winter years keep you close to the fire.

3 In old age, your body no longer serves you so well. Muscles slacken, grip weakens, joints stiffen. The shades are pulled down on the world.

4 You can't come and go at will. Things grind to a halt. The hum of the household fades away. You are wakened now by bird-song.

5 Hikes to the mountains are a thing of the past. Even a stroll down the road has its terrors. Your hair turns apple-blossom white, Adorning a fragile and impotent matchstick body. Yes, you're well on your way to eternal rest, While your friends make plans for your funeral.

6 Life, lovely while it lasts, is soon over. Life as we know it, precious and beautiful, ends.

7 The body is put back in the same ground it came from. The spirit returns to God, who first breathed it.

8 It's all smoke, nothing but smoke. The Quester says that everything's smoke.

9 Besides being wise himself, the Quester also taught others knowledge. He weighed, examined, and arranged many proverbs.

10 The Quester did his best to find the right words and write the plain truth.

11 The words of the wise prod us to live well. They're like nails hammered home, holding life together. They are given by God, the one Shepherd.

12 But regarding anything beyond this, dear friend, go easy. There's no end to the publishing of books, and constant study wears you out so you're no good for anything else.

13 The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what he tells you.

14 And that's it. Eventually God will bring everything that we do out into the open and judge it according to its hidden intent, whether it's good or evil.