Ecclesiastes 12:2
“While the Sunne, or the light, or the moone, or the starres be not darkened, nor the cloudes returne after the raine:”
1611 King James Version (KJV)
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Ecclesiastes 12:2 Context
1Remember now thy Creatour in the dayes of thy youth, while the euil daies come not, nor the yeeres drawe nigh, when thou shalt say, I haue no pleasure in them: 2While the Sunne, or the light, or the moone, or the starres be not darkened, nor the cloudes returne after the raine: 3In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bowe themselues, and the grinders cease, because they are fewe, and those that looke out of the windowes be darkened: 4And the doores shal be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise vp at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musicke shall be brought low.
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Other Translations for Ecclesiastes 12:2
While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
- King James Version
before the sun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain;
- New American Standard Version (1995)
before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars, are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;
- American Standard Version (1901)
While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, are not dark, and the clouds come not back after the rain;
- Basic English Bible
before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars, be darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;
- Darby Bible
While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, are not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
- Webster's Bible
Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;
- World English Bible
While that the sun is not darkened, and the light, And the moon, and the stars, And the thick clouds returned after the rain.
- Youngs Literal Bible
Before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars, are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;
- Jewish Publication Society Bible
Wesley's Notes for Ecclesiastes 12:2
12:2 Which - Heb. While the sun, and the light, and the moon, &c. That clause, and the light, seems to be added to signify that he speaks of the darkening of the sun, and moon, and stars; not in themselves, but only in respect of that light which they afford to men. And therefore the same clause which is expressed after the sun, is to be understood after the moon and stars. And those expressions may be understood of the outward parts of the body, and especially of the face, the beauty of the countenance, the pleasant complexion of the cheeks, the liveliness of the eyes, which are compared to the sun, and moon, and stars, and which are obscured in old age, as the Chaldee paraphrast understands it. Or of external things, of the change of their joy, which they had in their youth, into sorrow, and manifold calamities, which are usually the companions of old age. This interpretation agrees both with the foregoing verse, in which he describes the miseries of old age, and with the following clause, which is added to explain those otherwise ambiguous expressions; and with the scripture use of this phrase; for a state of comfort and happiness is often described by the light of the sun, and a state of trouble is set forth, by the darkening of the light of the sun. Nor the clouds - This phrase denotes a perpetual succession of rain, and clouds bringing rain, and then rain and clouds again. Whereby he expresses either the rheums or destructions which incessantly flow in old men; or the continual vicissitude of infirmities, diseases, and griefs; one deep calling upon another.