Ecclesiastes 12
12
The Problems of Old Age
1Remember your Creator while you are young.
Your old age is coming
when you will have many troubles.
When that time comes,
you won’t have much to enjoy.
2When you become old,
the light from the sun, moon and stars will seem dark to you.
It will seem as if the rain clouds never go away.
3At that time your arms will lose their strength.
Your strong legs will become weak and bent.
Your teeth will fall out so you cannot chew.
Your eyes will not see clearly.
4Your ears will be deaf to the noise in the streets.
You will barely hear singing.
The sound of the millstone grinding your grain will seem very quiet.
But you’ll wake up when a bird first starts singing!
5You will fear high places.
And you will be afraid to go for a walk because you may fall.
Your hair will become white like the flowers on an almond tree.
You will limp along like a grasshopper when you walk.
Your desires will be gone.
Then you will go to your everlasting home.
And people will go to your funeral.
6Remember God before your life is snapped like a silver chain.
Remember God before your life is broken like a golden bowl.
It will be as useless as a broken bucket at the spring.
It will be no good, like a broken wheel at a water well.
7Your body will become part of the dust of the earth again.
But your spirit will return to God who gave it.
8Everything is useless!
The Teacher says that everything is useless.
Conclusion
9The Teacher was very wise. He taught the people what he knew. The Teacher very carefully thought about, studied and set in order many wise teachings. 10The Teacher looked for just the right words. He wrote teachings that are dependable and true.
11Words from wise men are like sharp sticks used to guide animals. These words are like nails that have been driven in firmly. They are wise teachings that come from God the Shepherd. 12So be careful, my son, about other teachings. People are always writing books. And too much study will make you very tired.
13Now, everything has been heard.
Here is my final advice:
Honor God and obey his commands.
This is the most important thing people can do.
14God knows everything people do,
even the things done in secret.
He knows all the good and all the bad.
He will judge everything people do.
Ecclesiastes 11
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Copyright © 2015 by Tommy Nelson™, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Ecclesiastes 12
12
1Remember your Creator
in the days of your youth,
before the difficult days come
and the years draw near when you say,
“I have no pleasure in these days and years”; # 2Sa 19:35; Ecc 11:8
2before the sun and the light,
the moon and the stars are darkened,
and the clouds leave after the rain;
3in the day when those watching the house tremble,
and the strong men are bent over,
and the grinding teeth cease because they are few,
and those looking through the windows have dimmed eyes;
4and the doors on the street are shut,
and the sound of grinding teeth is less;
and awakened, one gets up at the sound of a bird,
and the melodious songs are faint from diminished hearing; # Jer 25:10
5when they fear heights,
even the terrors along the road;
the almond tree blossoms white,
and the grasshopper is burdened down,
and the aphrodisiac caper-berry plant fails,
because a person is going to his eternal home, # Job 17:13; 30:23
and the mourners are throughout the streets;
6before the silver cord is snapped,
and the golden bowl is smashed,
and the jar by the spring is broken
and the wheel at the cistern is crushed,
7and the dust returns to the earth as it was, # Ge 3:19
and the life breath returns to God who gave it. # Zec 12:1
8“Vanity of vanities,” says the Teacher,
“everything is vanity!” # Ecc 1:2
The Conclusion of the Matter
9In addition to being wise, the Teacher still taught the people knowledge, by weighing, studying, and arranging many proverbs. # 1Ki 4:32; Pr 10:1; 25:1 10Qoheleth sought to find pleasing words, and to write words of truth plainly.
11The words of the wise are like iron-tipped goads, and like well-driven nails are the collected sayings that are given by one shepherd. # Ps 80:1 12Beyond these, my son, be warned.
There is no end of making many books, and much study is a weariness of the body. # Ecc 1:18
13This is the end of the matter;
all has been heard.
Now fear God and keep His commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind. # Dt 10:12
14For God will bring every deed into judgment,
with every secret thing,
whether good or evil. # Ecc 11:9; 1Co 4:5
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The Holy Bible, Modern English Version
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