Ecclesiastes 12:4 nasb — and the doors on the street are shut as the sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the b…

NASB

"and the doors on the street are shut as the sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the daughters of song will sing softly."

— Ecclesiastes 12:4, NASB

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Ecclesiastes 12:4 in Other Translations

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Ecclesiastes 12 — Context

1

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, "I have no delight in them";

2

before the sun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain;

3

in the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, and mighty men stoop, the grinding ones stand idle because they are few, and those who look through windows grow dim;

4

and the doors on the street are shut as the sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the daughters of song will sing softly.

5

Furthermore, men are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags himself along, and the caperberry is ineffective. For man goes to his eternal home while mourners go about in the street.

6

Remember Him before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed;

7

then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

Ecclesiastes 12:4 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Ecclesiastes 12:4 say?
Ecclesiastes 12:4 in the NASB reads: “and the doors on the street are shut as the sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the daughters of song will sing softly.”
Where is Ecclesiastes 12:4 in the Bible?
Ecclesiastes 12:4 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 12, verse 4.
Who wrote Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes is traditionally attributed to Solomon (traditional; identified as "the Preacher, son of David"). It was written c. 940 BC.
What is the book of Ecclesiastes about?
Ecclesiastes is a candid meditation on life "under the sun" — its pleasures, its pains, and its apparent vanity. The Preacher tries wisdom, wealth, work, and pleasure, finds them all empty without God, and concludes that fearing God and keeping his commandments is the whole of man.
What are the major themes of Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes explores themes including Vanity, Time, Meaning, Fear of God, Mortality. These themes shape the meaning and context of Ecclesiastes 12:4.
What translation should I read Ecclesiastes 12:4 in?
Ecclesiastes 12:4 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Ecclesiastes 12:4?
Ecclesiastes 12:4 reads (NASB): “and the doors on the street are shut as the sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the daughters of song will sing softly.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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