The Bible — World English Bible

Ecclesiastes 12

In brief

Ecclesiastes 12 is the last chapter of the book. The Teacher urges us to remember our Creator from youth, before old age and death arrive, and he describes that decline in poetic images. He repeats that everything is vanity, then presents his work as a wise man. The conclusion gives the key to the whole book: fear God and keep his commandments, because God will bring every deed into judgment, even what is hidden.

The chapter in 4 parts

  1. v. 1-7Remember your Creator before the evil days come
  2. v. 8Vanity of vanities: the refrain of the book
  3. v. 9-12The work of the wise man and the worth of his words
  4. v. 13-14The conclusion: fear God, for everything will be judged

1Remember 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;”

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

3in 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,

4and 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;

5yes, they shall be afraid of heights, and terrors will be on 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:

6before 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,

7and 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!”

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

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

11The 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.

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

13This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.

14For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.

Key verses

Verse 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;”

The invitation does not wait for old age: we remember God while we are strong, not only when our strength fades. To remember here means to direct your life toward him.

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

The body returns to the dust, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. The verse echoes the creation account and reminds us that life comes from God and goes back to him.

Verse 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.

This is the conclusion of the whole teaching of the book: fear God and keep his commandments. Fear here means a respect full of trust, which puts everything in its right place.

Verse 14
For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.

Nothing escapes God's sight, neither good nor evil, nor what is hidden. This judgment gives weight to the present life: what we do matters.

Test your knowledge

All Bible quizzes →

Pray about this

What the sermons say

Ecclesiastes 12: Fear God, Remember Your CreatorThe last part of a series on Ecclesiastes: the chapter finally states the meaning of the book. Two movements: remembering your Creator in a changing world, then remembering wisdom, which comes down to fearing God.Read the summary →Dust to the Earth, Spirit to GodJudit starts from verse 7 to talk about death without frightening anyone, and brings us back to one question: where will your soul go after this body of dust? She calls us not to put that question off.Read the summary →You Reap What You SowIn a message on the law of the sower, Judit uses verse 7 to remind us that we sow on this earth, with the time that remains. The season for sowing is now.Read the summary →

Frequently asked questions about Ecclesiastes 12

What does Ecclesiastes 12:13 mean?

The verse sums up the whole book: fearing God and keeping his commandments is what every person is meant to do. After exploring work, pleasure and wisdom, the author concludes that only a life turned toward God has meaning. The fear of God here is trusting respect, not terror.

What do the images in verses 2 to 6 describe?

These poetic images describe aging and the approach of death: the guards who tremble, the eyes that grow dim, the almond tree that blossoms, the silver cord that comes loose. Interpreters differ on the detail of each image, but all recognize the picture of a body growing weaker before its return to the dust.

Why remember your Creator in your youth?

Because time passes faster than we think and strength fades. The Teacher does not say that youth is bad, he invites us to give God our best years rather than wait for the days when we will say we find no pleasure in them.

Articles quoting Ecclesiastes 12

← All chapters

World English Bible translation — public domain.