←Ecclesiastes 12→BSB

In This Chapter 18 terms

Key Terms

Fear 3 Truth (Faithfulness) 2 Fear (State) Awe (State) Fear (Terror) Fear (Reverence) Fear (Awe) Fearful Respect Respect (Among People) Knowledge Intention (Evil) Proverb Straightness Upright Straight Be Straight Truthfulness

Remember Your Creator

ⓘ Remember your Creator: Reverence for God can provide...

Remember your Creator: Reverence for God can provide wisdom (Proverbs 1:7) and guidance on what is beneficial in life and pleasing to God at judgment (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14). It is better to remember God when young, as wisdom can greatly impact life's outcomes.
ⓘ This beautiful prose poem, rich with Hebrew metaphors,...

This beautiful prose poem, rich with Hebrew metaphors, describes the painful decline that comes with aging. It continues from Ecclesiastes 11:7–10.
1Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,before the days of adversity comeand the years approach of which you will say,“I find no pleasure in them,”2before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened,and the clouds return after the rain,3on the day the keepers of the house trembleand the strong men stoop,when those grinding cease because they are fewand those watching through windows see dimly,4when the doors to the street are shutand the sound of the mill fades away,when one rises at the sound of a birdand all the daughters of song grow faint,5when men fear the heights and dangers of the road,when the almond tree blossoms,the grasshopper loses its spring,and the caper berry shrivels—for then man goes to his eternal homeand mourners walk the streets.
6Remember Him before the silver cord is snappedand the golden bowl is crushed,before the pitcher is shattered at the springand the wheel is broken at the well,7before the dust returns to the ground from which it cameand the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8“Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher.“Everything is futile!”

The Whole Duty of Man

ⓘ This final note by the editor (see “Author...

This final note by the editor (see “Author and Recipients” in the Book Introduction) shows respect for the Teacher. It urges readers to apply the Teacher's lessons and shares the editor’s conclusion from studying the Teacher (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14).

9Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs. 10The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.†

11The words of the wise are like goads, and the anthologies of the masters are like firmly embedded nails driven by a single Shepherd.† 12And by these, my son, be further warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.

ⓘ The editor concludes from studying the Teacher's work...

The editor concludes from studying the Teacher's work that we should fear God (see Ecclesiastes 3:14; 5:7; 7:18; 8:12–13). This means we must obey his commands, because everything we do will face judgment (see Ecclesiastes 11:9; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Hebrews 9:27).

13When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man. 14For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.