Ecclesiastes 12

1 Remember [keep in mind, do not forget] your Creator [Maker, the one who formed you] in the days [periods of time, seasons] of your youth [young adulthood, strength], before the days [times, periods] of adversity [evil, trouble] come and the years [periods of time, seasons] approach of which you will say, “I find [there is, exists] no pleasure [delight, joy] in them [these days, this life],” word study 2 before the light [natural and spiritual illumination] of the sun [the sun; the east or the west], moon, and stars [celestial bodies and spiritual leaders] is darkened [to become obscure, hidden], and the clouds [thick, providing refuge] return [to come back, reverse direction] after [following, in the rear of] the rain [a refreshing downpour, spiritual revitalization], word study 3 on the day [of reckoning, before all time] the keepers [guards, protectors] of the house [dwelling place, temple] tremble [shake with fear, are terrified] and the strong men [men of strength, mighty ones] stoop [bow themselves, are bent over], when those grinding [crushing, pulverizing] cease [stop, come to an end] because they are few [diminished, reduced in number] and those watching [looking, gazing] through windows [lattices, openings] see dimly [are darkened, have poor vision], word study 4 when the doors to the street [public thoroughfare] are shut [closed, barred] and the sound [voice, noise] of the mill [hand mill, grinding stone] fades away, when one rises [stands up, gets up] at the sound [voice, call] of a bird [little bird, sparrow] and all [every, everything] the daughters [female children, women] of song [music, singing] grow faint [become low, are brought down], word study 5 when men [also, even they] fear [are afraid of, have a deep reverence for] the heights [that which is high, lofty] and dangers [terrors, fears] of the road [way, path], when the almond tree blossoms [flourishes, is in bloom], the grasshopper [locust, a type of insect] loses [becomes a burden, is despised] its spring [vitality, energy], and the caper berry [desire, that which provokes longing] shrivels [fails, is destroyed]— for [because, since] then man [the human, Adam] goes [walks, travels] to his eternal [everlasting, forever] home [place, house] and mourners [those who lament, sorrow] walk [go about, surround] the streets [public thoroughfares, roads]. word study 6 Remember Him [think much about God, be mindful of His presence] before the silver [valuable, precious] cord [ribbon, bond] is snapped [loosed, severed] and the golden [pure, shining] bowl [container, fountain] is crushed [broken, shattered], before the pitcher [jar, vessel] is shattered [broken, smashed] at the spring [fountain, source of life] and the wheel [circular motion, cycle] is broken [crushed, severed] at the well [cistern, reservoir], word study 7 before the dust [dry earth, clay] returns to the ground [land, earth] from which it came and the spirit [breath of life, the divine spark] returns to God [Elohim, the supreme Giver] who gave it [bestowed, imparted]. word study 8 “Futility [vanity, emptiness] of futilities [transitory things, unsatisfactory experiences],” says the Teacher [preacher, wisdom sharer]. “Everything [all things, the whole of life] is futile [without lasting purpose, meaningless]!” word study 9 Not only was the Teacher [a wise and skilled preacher] wise, but he also taught the people [the nation of Israel, a multitude] knowledge [understanding, insight]; he pondered [weighed, considered carefully], searched out [examined closely, investigated], and arranged [set in order, made straight] many proverbs [wise sayings, teachings]. word study 10 The Teacher [preacher, one who shares wisdom] searched [to seek, to find by looking carefully] to find [to discover, to attain] delightful [pleasing, enjoyable] sayings [words, expressions] and to record [to write, to inscribe] accurate [upright, truthful] words [expressions, declarations] of truth [faithfulness, reliability]. word study 11 The words [utterances, sayings] of the wise [intelligent, skilled, wise or skilled] are like goads [sharp sticks, cattle prods], and the anthologies [collections, sayings] of the masters [leaders, owners, master or owner] are like firmly embedded nails [nails fastened, pegs] driven by a single [one, united, one or unique] Shepherd [pastor, ruler, to care for or tend to]. word study 12 And by these, my [beloved] son, be further warned [admonished, take heed]: There is no end [limit, conclusion] to the making [creating, writing] of many [numerous, countless] books [scrolls, written documents], and much [excessive, prolonged] study [intense learning, devotion] wearies [causes fatigue, exhausts] the body [flesh, physical form]. word study 13 When all [everything, the whole matter] has been heard, the conclusion [end, final word] of the matter is this: Fear [revere, stand in awe of] God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] and keep [obey, guard] His commandments [laws, divine instructions], because this is the whole [entire, complete] duty [responsibility, obligation] of man [humanity, mankind]. word study 14 For [because of this reason] God [Elohim, the supreme Judge] will bring every [all, each] deed [action, work] into judgment [justice], along with every [all, each] hidden [concealed, secret] thing, whether [if] good [pleasant, beneficial] or [if] evil [bad, harmful]. word study