New American Standard Bible 2020

Ecclesiastes 12:8-14

8“1Futility of futilities,” says the Preacher, “all is futility!”

9In addition to being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out, and arranged 2many proverbs. 10The Preacher sought to find 3delightful words and to write 4words of truth correctly.

11The 5words of the wise are like 6 7goads, and masters of these collections are like driven 8nails; they are given by one Shepherd. 12But beyond this, my son, be warned: the 9writing of 10many books is endless, and excessive 11study is 12wearying to the body.

13The conclusion, when everything has been heard, is: 13fear God and 14keep His commandments, because this applies to 15every person. 14For 16God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 12

Notes

1. Ecclesiastes 12:8 Eccl 1:2 ↩
2. Ecclesiastes 12:9 1 Kin 4:32 ↩
3. Ecclesiastes 12:10 Prov 10:32 ↩
4. Ecclesiastes 12:10 Prov 22:20, 21 ↩
5. Ecclesiastes 12:11 Prov 1:6; 22:17; Eccl 7:5; 10:12 ↩
6. Ecclesiastes 12:11 I.e., spiked sticks for driving cattle ↩
7. Ecclesiastes 12:11 Acts 2:37 ↩
8. Ecclesiastes 12:11 Ezra 9:8; Is 22:23 ↩
9. Ecclesiastes 12:12 Lit making ↩
10. Ecclesiastes 12:12 1 Kin 4:32 ↩
11. Ecclesiastes 12:12 Eccl 1:18 ↩
12. Ecclesiastes 12:12 Lit weariness ↩
13. Ecclesiastes 12:13 Eccl 3:14; 5:7; 7:18; 8:12 ↩
14. Ecclesiastes 12:13 Deut 4:2; Eccl 8:5 ↩
15. Ecclesiastes 12:13 Deut 10:12; Mic 6:8 ↩
16. Ecclesiastes 12:14 Eccl 3:17; 11:9; Matt 10:26; Rom 2:16; 1 Cor 4:5 ↩

Notes

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 12