| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them”: | 1Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of adversity come and the years approach of which you will say, “I find no pleasure in them,” |
| 2While the sun and the light, The moon and the stars, Are not darkened, And the clouds do not return after the rain; | 2before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened, and the clouds return after the rain, |
| 3In the day when the keepers of the house tremble, And the strong men bow down; When the grinders cease because they are few, And those that look through the windows grow dim; | 3on the day the keepers of the house tremble and the strong men stoop, when those grinding cease because they are few and those watching through windows see dimly, |
| 4When the doors are shut in the streets, And the sound of grinding is low; When one rises up at the sound of a bird, And all the daughters of music are brought low. | 4when the doors to the street are shut and the sound of the mill fades away, when one rises at the sound of a bird and all the daughters of song grow faint, |
| 5Also they are afraid of height, And of terrors in the way; When the almond tree blossoms, The grasshopper is a burden, And desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home, And the mourners go about the streets. | 5when 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 home and mourners walk the streets. |
| 6Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the well. | 6Remember Him before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is crushed, before the pitcher is shattered at the spring and the wheel is broken at the well, |
| 7Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it. | 7before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it. |
| 8“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “All is vanity.” | 8“Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile!” |
| 9And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs. | 9Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs. |
| 10The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright—words of truth. | 10The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth. |
| 11The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. | 11The words of the wise are like goads, and the anthologies of the masters are like firmly embedded nails driven by a single Shepherd. |
| 12And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh. | 12And by these, my son, be further warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body. |
| 13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. | 13When 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. |
| 14For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil. | 14For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil. |
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