| New King James Version | Christian Standard 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”: | 1So remember your Creator in the days of your youth: Before the days of adversity come, and the years approach when you will say, "I have no delight 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 sun and the light are darkened, and the moon and the stars, 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 when the guardians of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, the women who grind grain cease because they are few, and the ones who watch through the 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. | 4the doors at the street are shut while the sound of the mill fades; 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. | 5Also, they are afraid of heights and dangers on the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper loses its spring, and the caper berry has no effect; for the mere mortal is headed to his eternal home, and mourners will walk around in the street; |
| 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. | 6before the silver cord is snapped, and the gold bowl is broken, and the jar is shattered at the spring, and the wheel is broken into the well; |
| 7Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it. | 7and the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. |
| 8“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “All is vanity.” | 8"Absolute futility," 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. | 9In addition to the Teacher being a wise man, he constantly taught the people knowledge; he weighed, explored, and arranged many proverbs. |
| 10The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright—words of truth. | 10The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and write words of truth accurately. |
| 11The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. | 11The sayings of the wise are like cattle prods, and those from masters of collections are like firmly embedded nails. The sayings are given by one 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. | 12But beyond these, my son, be 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 commands, because this is for all humanity. |
| 14For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil. | 14For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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