Ecclesiastes 12

NIV — New International Version Bible (NIV)

SVL — Swedish Contemporary Bible (SVL)

Verse 1

Remember 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”—

— not in SVL

Verse 2

before the sun and the light
and the moon and the stars grow dark,
and the clouds return after the rain;

— not in SVL

Verse 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;

— not in SVL

Verse 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;

— not in SVL

Verse 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.

— not in SVL

Verse 6

Remember 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,

— not in SVL

Verse 7

and the dust returns to the ground it came from,
and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

— not in SVL

Verse 8

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.^[a]
“Everything is meaningless!”

The Conclusion of the Matter

— not in SVL

Verse 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.

— not in SVL

Verse 10

The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.

— not in SVL

Verse 11

The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd.^[b]

— not in SVL

Verse 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.

— not in SVL

Verse 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 all mankind.

— not in SVL

Verse 14

For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.

— not in SVL