King James Version

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:

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Hebrew

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עַ֠דadevenעַדpreposition — “even”H5704as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)against, and, as, at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as), (hither-) to, [phrase] how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that, till, toward, until, when, while, ([phrase] as) yet.אֲשֶׁ֨רasherbecauseאֲשֶׁרparticle, relative — “because”H834who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.[idiom] after, [idiom] alike, as (soon as), because, [idiom] every, for, [phrase] forasmuch, [phrase] from whence, [phrase] how(-soever), [idiom] if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), [idiom] though, [phrase] until, [phrase] whatsoever,…לֹֽאlono , -r,לֹאparticle, negative — “no , -r,”H3808not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles[idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as trul…תֶחְשַׁ֤ךְtechshakhbe blackחָשַׁךְverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, feminine, singular — “be black”, an unfinished actionH2821to be dark (as withholding light); transitively, to darkenbe black, be (make) dark, darken, cause darkness, be dim, hide.הַשֶּׁ֨מֶשׁ֙hashemeshthe sunשֶׁמֶשׁdefinite article, noun, common, both genders, singular, absolute — “the sun”, the ordinary formH8121the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (architectural) a notched battlement[phrase] east side(-ward), sun (rising), [phrase] west(-ward), window. See also H1053 (בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ).וְהָא֔וֹרvehaorand the brightאוֹרconjunction, definite article, noun, common, both genders, singular, absolute — “and the bright”, the ordinary formH216illumination or (concrete) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.)bright, clear, [phrase] day, light (-ning), morning, sun.וְהַיָּרֵ֖חַvehayarechaand the moon. Yrechow. See H3405יָרֵחַconjunction, definite article, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “and the moon. Yrechow. See H3405”, the ordinary formH3394the moonmoon. Yrechow. See H3405 (יְרִיחוֹ).וְהַכּוֹכָבִ֑יםvehakokhavimand the starכּוֹכָבconjunction, definite article, noun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “and the star”, the ordinary formH3556a star (as round or as shining); figuratively, a princestar(-gazer).וְשָׁ֥בוּveshavvand againשׁוּבconjunction, verb, qal, sequential perfect, 3rd person, common, plural — “and again”, a completed action in a sequenceH7725to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again,…הֶעָבִ֖יםheavimthe cloudעָבdefinite article, noun, common, both genders, plural, absolute — “the cloud”, the ordinary formH5645properly, an envelope, i.e. darkness (or density, 2 Chronicles 4:17); specifically, a (scud) cloud; also a copseclay, (thick) cloud, [idiom] thick, thicket. Compare H5672 (עֲבִי).אַחַ֥רacharafterאַחַרpreposition — “after”H310properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, [phrase] out (over) live, [phrase] persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, the…הַגָּֽשֶׁםhagashemthe showerגֶּשֶׁםdefinite article, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “the shower”, the ordinary formH1653a showerrain, shower.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

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

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

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

Young’s Literal Translation

While that the sun is not darkened, and the light, And the moon, and the stars, And the thick clouds returned after the rain.

World English Bible

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

Darby Translation

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

Douay-Rheims

Before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars be darkened, and the clouds return after the rain:

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

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

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

While the sun and light are not darkened, nor the moon and the stars; nor the clouds return after the rain:

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ἕως οὗ μὴ σκοτισθῇ ὁ ἥλιος καὶ τὸ φῶς, καὶ ἡ σελήνη καὶ οἱ ἀστέρες, καὶ ἐπιστρέψουσι τὰ νέφη ὀπίσω τοῦ ὑετοῦ.