Eclesiastés 12:1-7

1 Acuérdate de tu Creadoren los días de tu juventud,antes que lleguen los días malosy vengan los años en que digas:«No encuentro en ellos placer alguno»;

2 antes que dejen de brillarel sol y la luz,la luna y las estrellas,y vuelvan las nubes después de la lluvia.

3 Un día temblarán los guardianes de la casa,y se encorvarán los hombres de batalla;se detendrán las molenderas por ser tan pocas,y se apagarán los que miran a través de las ventanas.

4 Se irán cerrando las puertas de la calle,irá disminuyendo el ruido del molino,las aves elevarán su canto,pero apagados se oirán sus trinos.

5 Sobrevendrá el temor por las alturasy por los peligros del camino.Florecerá el almendro,la langosta resultará onerosa,y no servirá de nada la alcaparra,pues el hombre se encamina al hogar eternoy rondan ya en la calle los que lloran su muerte.

6 Acuérdate de tu Creadorantes que se rompa el cordón de platay se quiebre la vasija de oro,y se estrelle el cántaro contra la fuentey se haga pedazos la polea del pozo.

7 Volverá entonces el polvo a la tierra,como antes fue,y el espíritu volverá a Dios,que es quien lo dio.

Eclesiastés 12:1-7 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.