Ecclesiastes 12
The Teacher's conclusion. Remember your Creator in the days of your youth before the difficult days come. The final verdict: fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. God will bring every deed into judgment.
EcclesiastesChapter 12 of 1214 versesBerean Standard Bible
In this passage: Solomon
Read Ecclesiastes 12 and keep notes on it in Doxa's Daily Faith Steps.
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of adversity come and the years approach of which you will say, “I find no pleasure in them,”
before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened, and the clouds return after the rain,
on the day the keepers of the house tremble and the strong men stoop, when those grinding cease because they are few and those watching through windows see dimly,
when the doors to the street are shut and the sound of the mill fades away, when one rises at the sound of a bird and all the daughters of song grow faint,
when 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 home and mourners walk the streets.
Remember Him before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is crushed, before the pitcher is shattered at the spring and the wheel is broken at the well,
before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
“Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile!”
Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.
The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.
The words of the wise are like goads, and the anthologies of the masters are like firmly embedded nails driven by a single Shepherd.
And by these, my son, be further warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.
When 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.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
Read next
How to Hear God’s Voice: A Practical Guide for BelieversScripture is the record of a God who speaks. This guide covers how to hear Him today and keep what He says.Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 12
Ecclesiastes 12:1Lamentations 3:27
“It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is still young.”
Ecclesiastes 12:1Ecclesiastes 11:8
“So if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is futile.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13Deuteronomy 10:12
“And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,”
“He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Ecclesiastes 12:142 Corinthians 5:10
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.”
Cross-references from OpenBible.info, licensed CC BY.
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