I was planning on reading all of Ecc 12:1-7 in the NLT until I came to verse 5. In my study I thought it would be ok to read verse 5, but when I got to verse 5 in my reading before the church, I had to switch to the NASB. Maybe you don’t think it’s too explicit.
Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper, and the caperberry no longer inspires sexual desire. (NLT, emphasis added)
Before I got to verse 5 in my reading, the more mature in age already had that look and feel of being depressed. And I don’t think the TNIV’s “desire no longer is stirred” is adequate. Keeping “caperberry” allows us to truly appreciate Qohelet’s allegorizing.
A fruit—capparis spinosa—thought to increase sexual powers and used by Ecclesiastes to symbolize the dying physical desire of the aging (Ecclesiastes 12:5 NAS). Most modern translations omit the symbolism of the Hebrew and translate, “desire.” (Holman Bible Dictionary)
Caperberry was the aphrodasiac in the Ancient Near Eastern world. I believe modern translations made a mistake in not keeping “caperberry,” because in the same verse they have already kept “almond tree blossoms.” The REB is not too shabby with its “the caper-buds no longer give zest.” If the TNIV had “the caperberry no longer stirs desire,” then I believe it may have worked for me. But what is meant by “desire”?
Or I may have underestimated the judgment of my congregation. Next time I think I might just go ahead and read the NLT and see what happens. 
Its not as bad as Ezekiel 23:20 in both the NIV/TNIV and the NLT. I guess scripture is going to be explicit sometimes.
Michael, thanks for this Ezek reference:
The NLT is trying to communicate the message of the Bible in clear language, not necessarily comfortable language. I’d say just go ahead and read it next time. If you need to deflect some heat for doing so, I’m happy to field any calls or emails from people in your church who don’t like it. (Is that pastorally sensitive?)
BTW, the NLT Study Bible has a note explaining that the caperberry was thought to be an aphrodisiac. And if Eccles 12:5 creates discomfort, you may want to skip the NLT Study Bible notes on Song of Solomon!
Keith, thanks for taking this one on. It seems like most older generation folks aren’t ready for the language of the NLT. Personally, I have no problem with the NLT’s rendering. I think it accurately reflects the Hebrew.
Thanks for the pastoral offer. Do you have a church ready for me to minister to?
I’m doing Son of Solomon next. I’m surveying all the books of the Bible. Well, I’m looking forward to the Study Bible.
It always interests me that we find no shame in some of the extreme violence described in the Bible (Jael’s tent peg anyone?) but we do tend to shy away from the sexual imagery.
That being said, I still reckon that some of my familiarity with the OT comes from being with a group of boys at the back of the Sunday school class trying to find the rude bits in Leviticus. I guess God can redeem anything.
Eddie, I believe we tend to choose different aspects of the Bible to focus on based on our audiences. But your point is legitimate.