Ecclesiastes 12:11 — Compare Translations

English (YLT) 1898 Young's Literal Translation by Robert Young

Words of the wise [are] as goads, and as fences planted [by] the masters of collections, they have been given by one shepherd.

English ASV

The words of the wise are as goads; and as nails well fastened are the words of the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

English Amplified

The words of the wise are like prodding goads, and firmly fixed [in the mind] like nails are the collected sayings which are given [as proceeding] from one Shepherd. [Ezek. 37:24.]

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

The words of the wise are like prodding goads, and firmly fixed [in the mind] like nails are the collected sayings which are given [as proceeding] from one Shepherd. [Ezek. 37:24.]

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

The words of the wise are like goads, and the anthologies of the masters are like firmly embedded nails driven by a single Shepherd.

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

The sayings of the wise are like cattle prods, and those from masters of collections are like firmly embedded nails. The sayings are given by one Shepherd.

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

The words of the wise are as goads, and the collections [of them] as nails fastened in: they are given from one shepherd.

English EASY 2024

The words of wise people are like sharp sticks that a farmer uses to move his animals along. Their messages are like strong nails in a piece of wood. It is God, our one Shepherd, who gives these messages to us.

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

Words from the wise are like sharp sticks that people use to make their animals go the right way. These teachings are like strong pegs that will not break. These wise teachings all come from the same Shepherd.

English ESV 2016 == The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles

The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd.

English GNT (Good News Translation)

The sayings of the wise are like the sharp sticks that shepherds use to guide sheep, and collected proverbs are as lasting as firmly driven nails. They have been given by God, the one Shepherd of us all.

English God's Word - GW 1995

Words from wise people are like spurs. Their collected sayings are like nails that have been driven in firmly. They come from one shepherd.

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

The sayings of the wise are like goads, and those from masters of collections are like firmly embedded nails. The sayings are given by one Shepherd.

English KJV 1611

The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

English LSB

The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd.

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

The words of the wise are like iron-tipped goads, and like well-driven nails are the collected sayings that are given by one shepherd.

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd.

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

The sayings of the wise are like goads; like fixed spikes are the topics given by one collector.

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

The words of the sages are like prods, and the collected sayings are like firmly fixed nails; they are given by one shepherd.

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

The sayings of those who are wise move people to take action. Their collected sayings really nail things down. They are given to us by one Shepherd.

English NIV

The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails-given by one Shepherd.

English NKJ 1982

The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd.

English NLT

A wise teacher's words spur students to action and emphasize important truths. The collected sayings of the wise are like guidance from a shepherd.

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

The sayings of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings that are given by one shepherd.

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

The sayings of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings which are given by one Shepherd.

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

The wise man's words are like goads that spur to action. They nail down important truths. Students are wise who master what their teachers tell them.

English Tyndale 1537

For the words of the wise are like pricks and nails that go thorow, wherewith men are kept together: for they are given of one shepherd onely.