Ecclesiastes Chapter 12

From The Open Bible Project

12:1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw near, when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them;”

12:2 Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;

• (a) Before you come to a continual misery: for when the clouds remain after the rain, man’s grief is increased.

12:3 in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look out of the windows are darkened,

• (b) The hands which keep the body.
• (c) The legs.
• (d) The teeth.
• (e) The eyes.

12:4 and the doors shall be shut in the street; when the sound of the grinding is low, and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low;

• (f) The lips or mouth.
• (g) When the jaws will scarce open and not be able to chew any more.
• (h) He will not be able to sleep.
• (i) That is the wind pipes or the ears will be deaf and not able to hear singing.

12:5 yes, they shall be afraid of heights, and terrors will be in the way; and the almond tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goes to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets:

• (k) To climb high because of their weakness, or they stoop down as though they were afraid lest anything should hide them.
• (l) They will tremble as they go, as though they were afraid.
• (m) Their head will be as white as the blossoms of an almond tree.
• (n) They will be able to bear nothing.

12:6 before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the spring, or the wheel broken at the cistern,

• (o) Meaning, the marrow of the backbone and the sinews.
• (p) The little skin that covers the brain, which is in colour like gold.
• (q) That is, the veins.
• (r) Meaning the liver.
• (s) Which is the head.
• (t) That is, the heart out of which the head draws the powers of life.

12:7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

• (u) The soul unconsciously goes either to joy or torment, and sleeps not as the wicked imagine.

12:8 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All is vanity!”

12:9 Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

12:10 The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth.

12:11 The words of the wise are like goads; and like nails well fastened are words from the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

• (x) Which are well applied by the ministers, whom he calls masters.
• (y) That is by God.

12:12 Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

• (z) These things cannot be comprehended in books or learned by study, but God must instruct your heart that you may only know that wisdom is the true happiness and the way to it is to fear God.

12:13 This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. 12:14 For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.