Ecclesiastes 12:1

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Ecclesiastes 12:1–3 · Berean Standard Bible

1 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 before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened, and the clouds return after the rain,

3 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,

Hebrew words

Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

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Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

Ecclesiastes 11:10

So banish sorrow from your heart, and cast off pain from your body, for youth and vigor are fleeting.

Genesis 39:2

And the LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master.

Genesis 39:8

But he refused. “Look,” he said to his master’s wife, “with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in his house, and he has entrusted everything he owns to my care.

Genesis 39:9

No one in this house is greater than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God?”

Genesis 39:23

The warden did not concern himself with anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

1 Samuel 1:28

I now dedicate the boy to the LORD. For as long as he lives, he is dedicated to the LORD.” So they worshiped the LORD there.

1 Samuel 2:18

Now Samuel was ministering before the LORD—a boy wearing a linen ephod.

1 Samuel 2:26

And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and with man.

1 Samuel 3:19

And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and He let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground.

1 Samuel 3:20

So all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD.

1 Samuel 3:21

And the LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, because there He revealed Himself to Samuel by His word.

1 Samuel 16:7

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:12

So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him in. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him, for he is the one.”

1 Samuel 16:13

So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

1 Samuel 17:36

Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”

1 Samuel 17:37

David added, “The LORD, who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear, will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” “Go,” said Saul, “and may the LORD be with you.”

1 Kings 3:6

Solomon replied, “You have shown much loving devotion to Your servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and uprightness of heart. And You have maintained this loving devotion by giving him a son to sit on his throne this very day.

1 Kings 3:7

And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in.

1 Kings 3:8

Your servant is here among the people You have chosen, a people too numerous to count or number.

1 Kings 3:9

Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”

1 Kings 3:10

Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had made this request.

1 Kings 3:11

So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this instead of requesting long life or wealth for yourself or death for your enemies—but you have asked for discernment to administer justice—

1 Kings 3:12

behold, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has never been nor will ever be another like you.

1 Kings 14:13

All Israel will mourn for him and bury him. For this is the only one belonging to Jeroboam who will receive a proper burial, because only in him has the LORD, the God of Israel, found any good in the house of Jeroboam.

1 Kings 18:12

I do not know where the Spirit of the LORD may carry you off when I leave you. Then when I go and tell Ahab and he does not find you, he will kill me. But I, your servant, have feared the LORD from my youth.

2 Chronicles 34:2

And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.

2 Chronicles 34:3

In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his father David, and in the twelfth year he began to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images.

Psalms 22:9

Yet You brought me forth from the womb; You made me secure at my mother’s breast.

Psalms 22:10

From birth I was cast upon You; from my mother’s womb You have been my God.

Psalms 34:11

Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Psalms 71:17

O God, You have taught me from my youth, and to this day I proclaim Your marvelous deeds.

Psalms 71:18

Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, until I proclaim Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come.

Proverbs 8:17

I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Isaiah 26:8

Yes, we wait for You, O LORD; we walk in the path of Your judgments. Your name and renown are the desire of our souls.

Lamentations 3:27

It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is still young.

Daniel 1:8

But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or wine. So he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself.

Daniel 1:9

Now God had granted Daniel favor and compassion from the chief official,

Daniel 1:17

To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom. And Daniel had insight into all kinds of visions and dreams.

Luke 1:15

for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.

Luke 2:40

And the Child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.

Luke 2:41

Every year His parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.

Luke 2:42

And when He was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the Feast.

Luke 2:43

When those days were over and they were returning home, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but His parents were unaware He had stayed.

Luke 2:44

Assuming He was in their company, they traveled on for a day before they began to look for Him among their relatives and friends.

Luke 2:45

When they could not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him.

Luke 2:46

Finally, after three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

Luke 2:47

And all who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers.

Luke 2:48

When His parents saw Him, they were astonished. “Child, why have You done this to us?” His mother asked. “Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.”

Luke 2:49

“Why were you looking for Me?” He asked. “Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house ?”

Luke 2:50

But they did not understand the statement He was making to them.

Luke 2:51

Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

Luke 2:52

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Luke 18:16

But Jesus called the children to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Ephesians 6:4

Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

2 Timothy 3:15

From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Ecclesiastes 11:8

So if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is futile.

Job 30:2

What use to me was the strength of their hands, since their vigor had left them?

Psalms 90:10

The length of our days is seventy years— or eighty if we are strong— yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

Hosea 7:9

Foreigners consume his strength, but he does not notice. Even his hair is streaked with gray, but he does not know.

2 Samuel 19:35

I am now eighty years old. Can I discern what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of singing men and women? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?