Ecclesiastes 12 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible

World English Bible

Ecclesiastes 12 (WEBP)

[1] Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw near, when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them;”
[2] Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened, 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 because they are few, and those who look out of the windows are darkened,
[4] and the doors shall be shut in the street; when the sound of the grinding is low, and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low;
[5] yes, they shall be afraid of heights, and terrors will be on the way; and the almond tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goes to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets;
[6] before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the spring, or the wheel broken at the cistern,
[7] and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
[8] “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All is vanity!”
[9] Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
[10] The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth.
[11] The words of the wise are like goads; and like nails well fastened are words from the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
[12] Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
[13] This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
[14] For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.

Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.

King James w/Strong’s #s

Ecclesiastes 12 (KJVS)

[1] Remember () now thy Creator () in the days of thy youth , while the evil days come () not, nor the years draw nigh (), when thou shalt say (), I have no pleasure in them;
[2] While the sun , or the light , or the moon , or the stars , be not darkened (), nor 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 () because they are few (), and those that look out () of the windows be darkened (),
[4] And the doors shall be shut () in the streets , when the sound of the grinding is low , and he shall rise up () at the voice of the bird , and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low ();
[5] Also [when] they shall be afraid () of [that which is] high , and fears [shall be] in the way , and the almond tree shall flourish (), and the grasshopper shall be a burden (), and desire shall fail (): because man goeth () to his long home , and the mourners () go about () the streets :
[6] Or ever the silver cord be loosed () (8675) (), or the golden bowl be broken (), or the pitcher be broken () at the fountain , or the wheel broken () at the cistern .
[7] Then shall the dust return () to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return () unto God who gave () it.
[8] Vanity of vanities , saith () the preacher ; all [is] vanity .
[9] And moreover , because the preacher was wise , he still taught () the people knowledge ; yea, he gave good heed (), and sought out (), [and] set in order () many () proverbs .
[10] The preacher sought () to find out () acceptable words : and [that which was] written () [was] upright , [even] words of truth .
[11] The words of the wise [are] as goads , and as nails fastened () [by] the masters of assemblies , [which] are given () from one shepherd ().
[12] And further , by these , my son , be admonished (): of making () many () books [there is] no end ; and much () study [is] a weariness of the flesh .
[13] Let us hear () the conclusion of the whole matter : Fear () God , and keep () his commandments : for this [is] the whole [duty] of man .
[14] For God shall bring () every work into judgment , with every secret thing (), whether [it be] good , or whether [it be] evil .

Young’s Literal Translation

Ecclesiastes 12 (YLT)

[1] Remember also thy Creators in days of thy youth, While that the evil days come not, Nor the years have arrived, that thou sayest, ‘I have no pleasure in them.’
[2] While that the sun is not darkened, and the light, And the moon, and the stars, And the thick clouds returned after the rain.
[3] In the day that keepers of the house tremble, And men of strength have bowed themselves, And grinders have ceased, because they have become few. And those looking out at the windows have become dim,
[4] And doors have been shut in the street. When the noise of the grinding is low, And one riseth at the voice of the bird, And all daughters of song are bowed down.
[5] Also of that which is high they are afraid, And of the low places in the way, And the almond-tree is despised, And the grasshopper is become a burden, And want is increased, For man is going unto his home age-during, And the mourners have gone round through the street.
[6] While that the silver cord is not removed, And the golden bowl broken, And the pitcher broken by the fountain, And the wheel broken at the well.
[7] And the dust returneth to the earth as it was, And the spirit returneth to God who gave it.
[8] Vanity of vanities, said the preacher, the whole is vanity.
[9] And further, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge, and gave ear, and sought out-he made right many similes.
[10] The preacher sought to find out pleasing words, and, written by the upright, words of truth.
[11] Words of the wise are as goads, and as fences planted by the masters of collections, they have been given by one shepherd.
[12] And further, from these, my son, be warned; the making of many books hath no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
[13] The end of the whole matter let us hear:-‘Fear God, and keep His commands, for this is the whole of man.
[14] For every work doth God bring into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether good or bad.’