1 GLT And remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of misfortune have come and the years arrive of which you will say,“There is not for me 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 GLT before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are dark and the 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 GLT on the day when the guards of the house will tremble, and the men of valor will be bent over, and the women grinders cease because they are few, and those who look at the window will grow dark, 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 GLT and{ the} doors will be shut in the street; when the sound of the grinding{ is} low, and when a person rises at the sound of the bird, and all the daughters of the song are humbled; 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 GLT (also they are afraid of the high place, and terrors{ are} in the way, and the almond tree blossoms, and the locusts moves along, and the caper- fruit fails, for humanity is going to his eternal home, and the mourners surround the street) 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 GLT before the cord of silver is removed, and the bowl of gold is broken, and the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, and the wheel is crushed at the cistern, 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 GLT “Vapor of vapors!” says the Qoheleth.“Everything{ is} vapor!” BSB BSB: “Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile!”
9 GLT Besides{ the fact} that Qoheleth was wise, he still taught the people knowledge, and he weighed, and he searched. He ordered 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 GLT Qoheleth sought to discover words of pleasure, and words of truth were written rightly. BSB BSB: The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.
11 GLT { The} words of wise people are like goads, and like nails implanted are masters of collections. They are given 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 GLT Beyond them, my son, be warned: to the making of many scrolls, there is no end and much study{ is} weariness{ to the} flesh. 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 GLT The end of the matter; everything has been heard: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole of humanity. 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 GLT For every deed God will bring into judgment, concerning everything hidden, whether good or whether 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.