Bible
Ecclesiastes 12 (TNIV)
Topics in Book | Outline of Book | Facts About Book | Commentary | Parallel Verse
NET | ESV | KJV | ASV | RSV | Good News | CEV | Basic | MSG | Spanish | French
Previous Chapter | Browse | Next Chapter
1 2 before the sun and the light
and the moon and the stars grow dark,
and the clouds return after the rain;
3 when the keepers of the house tremble,
and the strong men stoop,
when the grinders cease because they are few,
and those looking through the windows grow dim;
4 when the doors to the street are closed
and the sound of grinding fades;
when people rise up at the sound of birds,
but all their songs grow faint;
5 when people are afraid of heights
and of dangers in the streets;
when the almond tree blossoms
and the grasshopper drags itself along
and desire no longer is stirred.
Then people go to their eternal home
and mourners go about the streets. 6 7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from,
and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 8 "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher.
"Everything is meaningless!" 9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true. 11 12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. 13 Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of every human being.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil. 
