Bill Blurb: We'll just survey the major theme of the book in this post, and look at the individual chapters when we finish Proverbs.
Psalm 71:1-13 God's Our Rock and Refuge
71:1 “In You, Yahweh, I take refuge. Never let me be disappointed. 2 Deliver me in Your righteousness, and rescue me. Turn Your ear to me, and save me. 3 Be to me a rock of refuge to which I may always go. Give the command to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress. 4 Rescue me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. 5 For You are my hope, Lord Yahweh; my confidence from my youth. 6 I have relied on You from the womb. You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb. I will always praise You. 7 I am a marvel to many, but You are my strong refuge. 8 My mouth shall be filled with Your praise, with Your honor all the day. 9 Don’t reject me in my old age. Don’t forsake me when my strength fails. 10 For my enemies talk about me. Those who watch for my soul conspire together, 11 saying, "God has forsaken him. Pursue and take him, for no one will rescue him." 12 God, don’t be far from me. My God, hurry to help me. 13 Let my accusers be disappointed and consumed. Let them be covered with disgrace and scorn who want to harm me...”
Observations: 71:1-4 For being God's favored servant, David sure had his share of frightening times. It looks like God has forsaken him and his enemies are closing in. (71:9-11)
71:5 David bolsters his confidence in God by recalling that God has been his hope and help and source of praise from youth. Having a good foundation of trusting God gives him confidence to not only wait for God, but ask Him to turn the tables on his enemies (quickly please). We'll see how it turns out when we revisit the Psalm in about six months. Odds are, it will have a happy ending.
Application: We need to build an early track record of trusting God and praising Him for deliverance, so that when the stakes get higher, our hope in His salvation and deliverance also increases.
Prayer: Trustworthy God, I know that I can always rely on You to help and deliver me from those opposed to You. Be my Rock and Refuge, and give me a calm confidence in Your rescue. Thanks. Amen.
Proverbs 18:14-16 Sustained and Healed
Observations: 18:14 When physically sick, one's spirit, as in emotional outlook, can sustain him/her, with hope or expectation of recovery. But, a crushed/broken spirit, doesn't sustain a person, but contributes to their demise. A crushed spirit can be due to sorrow/wound of the heart (Proverbs 15:13), or false hopes and dashed expectations. Some people view a wounded spirit as arising from bitterness due to real or perceived ill-treatment. The context is too limited to make a decisive determination of what causes the crushed spirit, but the solution is found in
Psalm 147:3 "He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds."
18:15-16 The discerning and wise weren't born that way, nor got there by accident, but purposefully sought knowledge, and continue to do so. The word for “gift” in verse 16 is usually used for an offering or present to secure favor, and not in the modern sense of talent or ability. However, having something to offer, such as knowledge, skill, wisdom, etc, does open doors, for those are things of which the great have need, and usually desire.
Application: Fixing our hope on God's providence, His help, and healing can sustain us through all kinds of difficulty.
Prayer: Great Physician, thanks for being the sustainer of my life and soul; make me whole, so I can serve You with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength. Amen.
Ecclesiastes: Solomon is trying to figure out what's worth doing with his life during his stay on earth. It's a classic pursuit of a worthwhile purpose to give meaning and direction to his life. Both the quest and conclusion are little disappointing, especially for the world's wisest guy. The problem is that Solomon is looking under the sun, and it's not until he looks above the sun to the Creator, that life under the sun makes sense (a lot like Job). Solomon tries everything, to see what's worth doing, and concludes it's all vanity, a vapor, a meaningless chasing and grasping the wind. He should have been able to figure out what is good by understanding what God had revealed, but we know spending time in God's word wasn't Solomon's strong suit. (See posts on Dt 17 and 1Kg 11.) Then again, some folks learn best by experience; so for those who don't grasp principles easily, Solomon's pursuit yields some practical insights to spare them the folly of going down the wrong paths. For all his wisdom Solomon misses the secrets to daily and eternal delights which his father David espoused in the Psalms.
Ecclesiastes 1 What's A Worthy Purpose for Life?
4 One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever. 5 The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises. 6 The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses. 7 All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again. 8 All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 That which has been is that which shall be; and that which has been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 10 Is there a thing of which it may be said, "Behold, this is new?" It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us. 11 There is no memory of the former; neither shall there be any memory of the latter that are to come, among those that shall come after.
12 I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind. 15 That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted. 16 I said to myself, "Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge." 17 I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind. 18 For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
Observations: 1:1-3 Since Solomon's thesis is that all is vanity, it might be a good idea to get a firm grip on it. Problem is, vanity is an elusive vapor, a breath, nothing substantial, and therefore meaningless. What does man gain from all his labor? He expends all his energy and comes up empty. There is no enduring gain or profit.
1:4-11 The cycles of life yield a pessimistic fatalism, far different from the joyful contemplations of creation in the Psalms and other Scriptures.
1:12-18 Solomon uses his great wisdom to the wrong ends, and rather than resulting in joy and peace and gratitude, he finds himself in grief and sorrow. God and His will isn't in the picture.
Application: Find out what's worth living for, and go for it with gusto.
Prayer: Gracious God, I thank You for revealing the paths to joy, peace, and prosperity in Your word. Don't let me fall into the trap of seeking it in the world, for that is a fool's errand. Amen.
Ecclesiastes 2 Pursuit of Power, Pleasure & Possessions
2:1 I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth: therefore enjoy pleasure"; and behold, this also was vanity. 2 I said of laughter, "It is foolishness"; and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?" 3 I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives. 4 I made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards. 5 I made myself gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit. 6 I made myself pools of water, to water from it the forest where trees were reared. 7 I bought male servants and female servants, and had servants born in my house. I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all who were before me in Jerusalem; 8 I also gathered silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men—musical instruments, and that of all sorts. 9 So I was great, and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me. 10 Whatever my eyes desired, I didn’t keep from them. I didn’t withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor. 11 Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
12 I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly: for what can the king’s successor do? Just that which has been done long ago. 13 Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness. 14 The wise man’s eyes are in his head, and the fool walks in darkness—and yet I perceived that one event happens to them all. 15 Then I said in my heart, "As it happens to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise?" Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity. 16 For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no memory for ever, since in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. Indeed, the wise man must die just like the fool!
17 So I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind. 18 I hated all my labor in which I labored under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me. 19 Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all of my labor in which I have labored, and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity. 20 Therefore I began to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor in which I had labored under the sun. 21 For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, with knowledge, and with skillfulness; yet he shall leave it for his portion to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. 22 For what has a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, in which he labors under the sun? 23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief; yes, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.
24 There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I? 26 For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
Observations: 2:1-11 Solomon takes all his wisdom and wealth in the pursuit of the three innate (pre-Fall) desires of power (security/significance), pleasure, and possessions in his futile quest for happiness and joy in life. And when he evaluates what he's gotten (1:11), he concludes “goose egg” :( It isn't worth it.
2:12-16 He does conclude that wisdom is better than folly, but meaningless in death (that's because he's not considering the possibility of laying up treasure in heaven).
2:17-23 So having everything he desires, he despairs of life, and hates it. Most people are caught up in the chase, and never consider if what they are chasing after will satisfy them if they get it (like a dog chasing a car). You probably don't have Solomon's wisdom, nor wealth, so what makes you think you'd do a better job of enjoying your attainments?
2:24 Solomon reaches a conclusion that is restated throughout the book, that there is nothing better to do than please God, because He is the one who gives the ability to enjoy food and drink and satisfying labor. Poor Solomon, he never quite figured out how to enjoy God.
Application: Pleasing God and enjoying Him is the path to satisfying pleasures forevermore.
Prayer: God, at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore; You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. May my ways be pleasing in Your sight, and my highest joy be abiding in Your presence. Amen.
Ecclesiastes 3 Time and Eternity
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet man can’t find out the work that God has done from the beginning even to the end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good as long as they live. 13 Also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God. 14 I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should fear before him. 15 That which is has been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago: and God seeks again that which is passed away.
16 Moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there. 17 I said in my heart, "God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work." 18 I said in my heart, "As for the sons of men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals. 19 For that which happens to the sons of men happens to animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the other dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage over the animals: for all is vanity. 20 All go to one place. All are from the dust, and all turn to dust again. 21 Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth?" 22 Therefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who can bring him to see what will be after him?
Observations: 3:1-10 There is a time for everything. We tend to cause ourselves problems by having our own timetable, rather than embracing God's timetable. We will always have time to do God's will. If you've sought God's will, depended upon His grace and prioritized your time to do it, then at the end of the day, you've done what God expected, even if some things are undone (unless, of course, you've squandered the time God entrusted to you as a stewardship, and done your will rather than His). For help see the Time Of Your Life Seminar on Truthbase.net.
3:11-15 God gives people a sense that there must be something more, yet they can't comprehend God's purposes, apart from Revelation. So Solomon defaults to just enjoying what life has to offer, but recognizes that such a path isn't satisfying. God has eternal purposes in what He does (such as attaching blessing to obedience and cursing to disobedience), which are irrevocable, therefore men should fear Him.
3:16-22 At this point you begin to wonder if Solomon had a little too much wine, because he isn't being too smart. He knows that there is eternity, and that God's purposes are eternal, but has a very materialistic view of the future. He ignores revelation, and the spiritual aspects of both the present and the future, and concludes that men and animals share the same fate. If that's the case, then all you can do is find pleasure in your work. He misses finding pleasure in God and in the future He's promised to those who are His loyal servants. Silly Solomon.
Application: A purely temporal, material mindset misses the present and future delights of a vibrant relationship with God.
Prayer: Eternal God, thanks that You created us for a relationship with You that transcends the death and decay syndrome of our world. Thanks that I can find pleasure in You, now and forevermore, regardless of my circumstances. Amen.
Ecclesiastes 11 Following Our Desires or God's
Ecclesiastes 12 Fear God and Keep His Commandments
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"; 2 Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened 5...and desire shall fail; because man goes to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets: 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, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8 "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher. "All is vanity!" 9 Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth. 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. 12 Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
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. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.
Observations: 11:7-10 Solomon correctly warns that life is fleeting, so gather rosebuds while ye may, but know that God will bring everything into judgment. He suggests we follow our desires (like he did) but admonishes us to remove sorrow and evil, so we can better enjoy life. Somehow he misses the emphasis in the law (oh, he didn't read it) that the blessed and prosperous life is the result of doing God's will, and not our own. He never learned to rejoice in God as David did, so His view of God is mainly that of a judge, and not a joy.
12:1-7 It is wise to remember our Creator every day, because life is short, and then we die. Solomon seems more concerned with temporal desire being jaded than the eternal delights and joy in the presence of God. He recognizes that the spirit returns to God, but doesn't seem to understand that eternal life goes on. Perhaps he was so stuffed with the temporal, he had no appetite for the eternal.
12:8-12 Despite viewing life as a fleeting vapor, Solomon still taught the people wisdom, because that's what wise people do. In verse 12 he mentions what every good student knows.
12:13-14 He sums up his perspective of life under the sun with a final look above the sun. The whole duty of humans is to fear God and keep His commandments, because God will bring everything into judgment (2 Corinthians 5:9-10). That's the duty, but delighting ourselves in God should be our wholehearted desire.
Application: Decreasing our consumption of the temporal increases our appetite for the eternal and yields present and future joy.
Prayer: God, my ambition is to be pleasing in Your sight, by obeying You and living for Your desires, because that is my greatest good and highest happiness. Amen.
Digging Deeper:
God in a nutshell: God is the Creator, and Judge of us and our world. He has eternal purposes which are realized during our fleeting time on earth. (What we do on earth echoes throughout eternity.) He's designed life to be imperfect and incapable of being fully enjoyed apart from dependently pleasing Him. He gives those who please Him the ability to enjoy what they have. He will judge everything that we do, both good (with accompanying blessing) and evil (with accompanying unpleasant consequences).
Us in a nutshell: We have limited time during our stay here on earth and need to use it wisely if we are going to enjoy it, and our future. We will not be satisfied, nor find enduring joy in merely temporal, vain things like power, pleasure and possessions. Our ability to enjoy such things is dependent upon pleasing God. Living for all this world has to offer is a vain and futile pursuit. It won't satisfy. Pursuing God's pleasure and purposes is the path to happily ever after, and a joyful journey along the way.
Where to Go for More:
Ecclesiastes 1-3, 12 complete text
Ecclesiastes 1
1:1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem: 2 "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." 3 What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?
4 One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever. 5 The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises. 6 The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses. 7 All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again. 8 All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 That which has been is that which shall be; and that which has been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 10 Is there a thing of which it may be said, "Behold, this is new?" It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us. 11 There is no memory of the former; neither shall there be any memory of the latter that are to come, among those that shall come after.
12 I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind. 15 That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted. 16 I said to myself, "Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge." 17 I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind. 18 For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
Ecclesiastes 2
2:1 I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth: therefore enjoy pleasure"; and behold, this also was vanity. 2 I said of laughter, "It is foolishness"; and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?" 3 I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives. 4 I made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards. 5 I made myself gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit. 6 I made myself pools of water, to water from it the forest where trees were reared. 7 I bought male servants and female servants, and had servants born in my house. I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all who were before me in Jerusalem; 8 I also gathered silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men—musical instruments, and that of all sorts. 9 So I was great, and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me. 10 Whatever my eyes desired, I didn’t keep from them. I didn’t withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor. 11 Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
12 I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly: for what can the king’s successor do? Just that which has been done long ago. 13 Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness. 14 The wise man’s eyes are in his head, and the fool walks in darkness—and yet I perceived that one event happens to them all. 15 Then I said in my heart, "As it happens to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise?" Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity. 16 For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no memory for ever, since in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. Indeed, the wise man must die just like the fool!
17 So I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind. 18 I hated all my labor in which I labored under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me. 19 Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all of my labor in which I have labored, and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity. 20 Therefore I began to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor in which I had labored under the sun. 21 For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, with knowledge, and with skilfulness; yet he shall leave it for his portion to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. 22 For what has a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, in which he labors under the sun? 23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief; yes, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity. 24 There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I? 26 For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
Ecclesiastes 3
3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. 9 What profit has he who works in that in which he labors? 10 I have seen the burden which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man can’t find out the work that God has done from the beginning even to the end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good as long as they live. 13 Also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God. 14 I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should fear before him. 15 That which is has been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago: and God seeks again that which is passed away.
16 Moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there. 17 I said in my heart, "God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work." 18 I said in my heart, "As for the sons of men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals. 19 For that which happens to the sons of men happens to animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the other dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage over the animals: for all is vanity. 20 All go to one place. All are from the dust, and all turn to dust again. 21 Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth?" 22 Therefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who can bring him to see what will be after him?
Ecclesiastes 12
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"; 2 Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain; 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, 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; 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: 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, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8 "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher. "All is vanity!" 9 Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth. 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. 12 Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
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. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.
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