1Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; (2Sa 19:35; Ec 11:8; La 3:27)2before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, (Job 3:9; Isa 5:30; Eze 32:7)3in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, (Ge 27:1; Ge 48:10; 1Sa 3:2)4and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— (Ps 141:3; Ec 2:8; Jer 25:10; Re 18:22)5they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along,[1] and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— (2Ch 35:25; Job 17:13; Job 30:23; Ps 143:3; Pr 26:13; Isa 14:18; Jer 9:17; Mt 9:23)6before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, (Isa 30:14; Zec 4:2)7and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. (Ge 2:7; Job 34:14; Job 34:15; Ps 90:3; Ps 103:14; Ec 3:20; Ec 3:21; Isa 57:16; Zec 12:1)8Vanity[2] of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity. (Ec 1:1; Ec 1:2)
Fear God and Keep His Commandments
9Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. (Pr 1:1; Ec 12:8)10The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. (Ec 12:8)11The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. (Ezr 9:8; Ps 80:1; Pr 1:6; Pr 2:6; Pr 22:17; Isa 22:23; Eze 34:23; Joh 10:11; Joh 10:16)12My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. (1Ki 4:32; Ec 1:18)13The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.[3] (De 6:2; De 10:12; Ec 5:7)14For God will bring every deed into judgment, with[4] every secret thing, whether good or evil. (Ge 18:25; Job 19:29; Ps 58:11; Ec 3:15; Ec 3:17; Ec 11:9; Mt 12:36; Ac 17:31; Ro 2:16; Ro 14:10; Ro 14:12; 1Co 4:5)
Ecclesiastes 12
New International Version
from Biblica1Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, ‘I find no pleasure in them’ –2before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain;3when 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;4when 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;5when 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.6Remember him – before the silver cord is severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel broken at the well,7and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.8‘Meaningless! Meaningless!’ says the Teacher.[1] ‘Everything is meaningless!’
The conclusion of the matter
9Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.10The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.11The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails – given by one shepherd.[2]12Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.13Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.14For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
Ecclesiastes 12
New International Reader’s Version
from Biblica1Remember your Creator. Remember him while you are still young. Think about him before your times of trouble come. The years will come when you will say, ‘I don’t find any pleasure in them.’2That’s when the sunlight will become dark. The moon and the stars will also grow dark. And the clouds will return after it rains.3Remember your Creator before those who guard the house tremble with old age. That’s when strong men will be bent over. The women who grind corn will stop because there are so few of them left. Those who look through the windows won’t be able to see very well.4Remember your Creator before the front doors are closed. That’s when the sound of grinding will fade away. Old people will rise up when they hear birds singing. But they will barely hear any of their songs.5Remember your Creator before you become afraid of places that are too high. You will also be terrified because of danger in the streets. Remember your Creator before the almond trees have buds on them. That’s when grasshoppers will drag themselves along. Old people will lose their desire. That’s when people will go to their dark homes in the grave. And those who mourn for the dead will walk around in the streets.6Remember your Creator before the silver cord is cut. Remember him before the golden bowl is broken. The wheel will be broken at the well. The pitcher will be smashed at the spring.7Remember your Creator before you return to the dust you came from. Remember him before your spirit goes back to God who gave it.8‘Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!’ says the Teacher. ‘Nothing has any meaning.’
Have respect for God and obey his commandments
9The Teacher was wise. He gave knowledge to people. He tried out many proverbs. He thought about them carefully. Then he wrote them down in order.10He did his best to find just the right words. And what he wrote was honest and true.11The sayings of those who are wise move people to take action. Their collected sayings are like nails pounded in firm and deep. These sayings are given to us by one shepherd.12My son, be careful not to pay attention to anything added to them. Books will never stop being written. Too much studying makes people tired.13Everything has now been heard. And here’s the final thing I want to say. Have respect for God and obey his commandments. This is what he expects of all human beings.14God will judge everything people do. That includes everything they try to hide. He’ll judge everything, whether it’s good or evil.
Ecclesiastes 12
King James Version
1Remember 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;2While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:3In 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,4And 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;5Also 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:6Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.7Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.8Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.9And 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.10The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.11The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.12And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.14For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Ecclesiastes 12
Einheitsübersetzung 2016
from Katholisches Bibelwerk1Denk an deinen Schöpfer in deinen frühen Jahren, / ehe die Tage der Krankheit kommen und die Jahre dich erreichen, / von denen du sagen wirst: Ich mag sie nicht!, (Tob 4:8; Tob 12:9; Sir 3:30; Sir 7:10)2ehe Sonne und Licht und Mond und Sterne erlöschen / und auch nach dem Regen wieder Wolken aufziehen: (Sir 14:11)3am Tag, da die Wächter des Hauses zittern, / die starken Männer sich krümmen, / die Müllerinnen ihre Arbeit einstellen, weil sie zu wenige sind, / es dunkel wird bei den Frauen, die aus den Fenstern blicken, (Job 14:7; Ec 3:17)4und das Tor zur Straße verschlossen wird; / wenn das Geräusch der Mühle verstummt, / steht man auf beim Zwitschern der Vögel, / doch alle Töchter des Liedes ducken sich;[1]5selbst vor der Anhöhe fürchtet man sich und vor den Schrecken am Weg; / der Mandelbaum blüht, / die Heuschrecke schleppt sich dahin, / die Frucht der Kaper platzt, / doch ein Mensch geht zu seinem ewigen Haus / und die Klagenden ziehen durch die Straßen - (Ps 139:15; Ec 3:11; Ec 8:17)6ja, ehe die silberne Schnur zerreißt, die goldene Schale bricht, / der Krug an der Quelle zerschmettert wird, / das Rad zerbrochen in die Grube fällt,7der Staub auf die Erde zurückfällt als das, was er war, / und der Atem zu Gott zurückkehrt, / der ihn gegeben hat. (Job 3:4; Ps 4:7; Ec 2:13; Ec 6:3; Isa 2:5; Isa 60:19)
Rahmenvers
8Windhauch, Windhauch, sagte Kohelet, das ist alles Windhauch. (Ec 1:2)
ZWEI NACHWORTE VON HERAUSGEBERN
Erstes Nachwort
9Kohelet war ein Gelehrter. Außerdem hat er einfachen Leuten Kenntnisse beigebracht. Er hörte zu und prüfte, er hat viele Sprichwörter selbst in Form gebracht. (1Ki 5:12; Pr 1:5; Sir 3:29)10Kohelet hat sich bemüht, gut formulierte Worte zu entdecken, und hier sind diese wahren Worte sorgfältig aufgeschrieben.11Worte von Gelehrten sind wie Ochsenstecken, / Sprüche aus Sammlungen aber sitzen wie eingetriebene Nägel - / sie sind die Gabe eines einzigen Hirten. (1Sa 13:21; Ps 23:1; Pr 2:6; Isa 40:11; Isa 41:7; Jer 10:4; Eze 34:11; Mic 7:14; Sir 1:1)
Zweites Nachwort
12Im Übrigen, mein Sohn, lass dich warnen! Es nimmt kein Ende mit dem vielen Bücherschreiben und viel Studieren ermüdet den Leib.13Hast du alles gehört, so lautet der Schluss:
Fürchte Gott und achte auf seine Gebote!
Das allein hat jeder Mensch nötig. (De 10:12; Pr 1:7; Ec 3:14; Ec 5:6; Ec 7:18; Sir 1:13)14Denn Gott wird jedes Tun vor das Gericht bringen, das über alles Verborgene urteilt, es sei gut oder böse.