Remember Your Creator 1 UEB Also call to mind your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of difficulty come, and before the years arrive when you say, "I have no pleasure in them," BSB BSB: Remember 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,”
2 UEB do this before the light of the sun and the moon and the stars grows dark, and dark clouds return after the rain. BSB BSB: before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened, and the clouds return after the rain,
3 UEB That will be the time when the palace guards will tremble, and strong men are bent over, and the women who grind cease because they are few, and those who look out of windows no longer see clearly. BSB BSB: on 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,
4 UEB That will be the time when the doors are shut in the street, and the sound of grinding stops, when men are startled at the voice of a bird, and the singing of girls' voices fades away. BSB BSB: when 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,
5 UEB That will be the time when men become afraid of heights and of dangers along on the road, and when the almond tree blossoms, and when grasshoppers drag themselves along, and when natural desires fail. Then man goes to his eternal home and the mourners go down the streets. BSB BSB: when 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.
6 UEB Call to mind your Creator before the silver cord is cut, or the golden bowl is crushed, or the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the water wheel is broken at the well, BSB BSB: Remember 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,
8 UEB "A mist of vapor," says the Teacher, "everything is vanishing vapor." BSB BSB: “Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile!”
The Whole Duty of Man 9 UEB The Teacher was wise and he taught the people knowledge. He studied and contemplated and set in order many proverbs. BSB BSB: Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.
10 UEB The Teacher sought to write using vivid, upright words of truth. BSB BSB: The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.
11 UEB The words of wise people are like goads. Like nails driven deeply are the words of the masters in collections of their proverbs, which are taught by one shepherd. BSB BSB: The words of the wise are like goads, and the anthologies of the masters are like firmly embedded nails driven by a single Shepherd.
12 UEB My son, be aware of something more: the making of many books, which has no end and much study brings weariness to the body. BSB BSB: And by these, my son, be further warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.
13 UEB The end of the matter after everything has been heard, is that you must fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of mankind. BSB BSB: When 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.
14 UEB For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. BSB BSB: For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.