Ecclesiastes 12:7
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4
Remember your Creator before the front doors are closed. That's when the sound of grinding will fade away. Old men will rise up when they hear birds singing. But they will barely hear any of their songs.
5
Remember your Creator before you become afraid of places that are too high. You will also be terrified because of danger in the streets. Remember your Creator before the almond trees have buds on them. That's when grasshoppers will drag themselves along. Old men will not want to make love anymore. Man will go to his dark home in the grave. And those who sob over the dead will walk around in the streets.
6
Remember your Creator before the silver cord is cut. That's when the golden bowl will be broken. The wheel will be broken at the well. The pitcher will be smashed at the spring.
7
Remember your Creator before you return to the dust you came from. That's when your spirit will go back to God who gave it.
8
"Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Nothing has any meaning."
Have Respect for God
9 The Teacher was wise. He gave knowledge to people. He put many proverbs to the test. He thought about them carefully. Then he wrote them down in order.
10
He did his best to find just the right words. And what he wrote was honest and true.
11
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.
12
My son, be careful not to pay attention to anything that is added to them. Books will never stop being written. Too much studying makes people tired.
13
Everything has now been heard. And here's the final thing I want to say. Have respect for God and obey his commandments. That's what everyone should do.
14
God will judge everything people do. That includes everything they try to hide. He'll judge everything, whether it's good or evil.
Images for Ecclesiastes 12:4-14
Ecclesiastes 12:4-14 Meaning and Commentary
INTRODUCTION TO ECCLESIASTES 12
This chapter begins with advice to young men, which is continued from the preceding; and particularly to remember their Creator in the days of their youth; enforced from the consideration of the troubles and inconveniences of old age, Ec 12:1; which, in an allegorical way, is beautifully described, Ec 12:2-6; and from the certainty of death, when it would be too late, Ec 12:7. And then the wise man returns to his first proposition, and which he kept in view all along, that all is vanity in youth or old age, Ec 12:8; and recommends the reading of this book, from the diligence, pains and labour, he used in composing it; from the sententious matter in it; from the agreeable, acceptable, and well chosen words, in which he had expressed it; and from the wisdom, uprightness, truth, efficacy, and authority of the doctrines of it, Ec 12:9-11; and from its preference to other books, which were wearisome both to author and reader, Ec 12:12. And it is concluded with the scope and design, the sum and substance of the whole of it, reducible to these two heads; the fear of God, and obedience to him, Ec 12:13; and which are urged from the consideration of a future judgment, into which all things shall be brought, Ec 12:14.
Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
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