Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

Epilogue

9 The Teacher was full of wisdom, and he taught the people with knowledge. He carefully considered many proverbs and carefully arranged them.

10 The Teacher sought to find delightful words, and he wrote what is upright--truthful words.

11 The words of the wise [are] like cattle goads; the collections of the sages [are] like pricks inflicted by one shepherd.

12 My son, be careful {about anything beyond these things}. For the writing of books is endless, and too much study {is wearisome}.

13 Now that all has been heard, here is the final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commandments, for this [is] the whole [duty] of man.

14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew "Qohelet"
• [b]. Hebrew "Qohelet"
• [c]. Hebrew "words of delight"
• [d]. The MT reads the term passively, "[what] is written," but an alternate textual tradition reads, "and he wrote"
• [e]. Or "The owner of collections are given by one shepherd"
• [f]. Literally "but from more than them"
• [g]. Literally "increases weariness of flesh"