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JPS Old Testament
Ecclesiastes 12:13
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When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity.
This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his mitzvot; for this is the whole duty of man.
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
The conclusion, when everything has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.
Now, everything has been heard, so I give my final advice: Honor God and obey his commands, because this is all people must do.
When all has been heard, the end of the matter is: fear God [worship Him with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is almighty God] and keep His commandments, for this applies to every person.
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.
Let vs heare the end of all: feare God and keepe his commandements: for this is the whole duetie of man.
The end of the matter, all that has been heard: fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the end of the matter for all mankind.
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.
Everything you were taught can be put into a few words: Respect and obey God! This is what life is all about.
Here is the final conclusion, now that you have heard everything: fear God, and keep his mitzvot; this is what being human is all about.
Let us hear the end of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole of man.
Now, what should we learn from everything that is written in this book? The most important thing a person can do is to respect God and obey his commands, because he knows about everything people do—even the secret things. He knows about all the good and all the bad, and he will judge people for everything they do.
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear the LORD and keep his commandments; this is given by one Master to every man.
After all this, there is only one thing to say: Have reverence for God, and obey his commands, because this is all that we were created for.
Now that all has been heard, here is the final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments; for this applies to every man.
Lat vs heare the conclucion of all thinges: Feare God, and kepe his comaundementes, for that toucheth all men:
This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
This is the last word. All has been said. Have fear of God and keep his laws; because this is right for every man.
Let vs heare the conclusion of the whole matter: Feare God, and keepe his commandements, for this is the whole duetie of man.
Let vs heare the conclusion of all thinges, Feare God, and kepe his commaundementes: for that toucheth all men.
Hear the end of the matter, the sun: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole man.
This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard: fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
Alle we here togydere the ende of spekyng. Drede thou God, and kepe hise heestis; `that is to seie, ech man.
[This is] the end of the matter; all has been heard: fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is [applicable to] all man.
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man.
Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all.
That's the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone's duty.
The last word, after all has been heard, is: Honor God and obey His Laws. This is all that every person must do.
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone.
The conclusion of the matter - the whole, let us hear, - Towards God, be reverent, and, his commandments, observe, for, this, concerneth all mankind.
Let us all hear together the conclusion of the discourse. Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is all man:
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
The end of the whole matter let us hear: -- `Fear God, and keep His commands, for this [is] the whole of man.
The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: or, The end of the matter, even all that hath been heard is
Fear: Ecclesiastes 5:7, Ecclesiastes 8:12, Genesis 22:12, Deuteronomy 6:2, Deuteronomy 10:12, Psalms 111:10, Psalms 112:1, Psalms 145:19, Psalms 147:11, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 23:17, 1 Peter 2:17, Revelation 19:5
for: Ecclesiastes 2:3, Ecclesiastes 6:12, Job 28:28, Psalms 115:13-15, Proverbs 19:23, Luke 1:50
Reciprocal: Exodus 1:17 - feared God Exodus 18:21 - such as Deuteronomy 4:2 - General Deuteronomy 4:10 - fear me 1 Kings 2:2 - and show 2 Kings 4:1 - thy servant did fear Nehemiah 5:15 - because Psalms 25:12 - What Psalms 34:12 - that he Psalms 36:1 - no Psalms 39:6 - surely Psalms 78:33 - years Proverbs 3:7 - fear Proverbs 9:10 - The fear Proverbs 14:2 - that walketh Proverbs 19:16 - keepeth the Proverbs 31:30 - she Ecclesiastes 1:18 - For in Ecclesiastes 7:14 - set Ecclesiastes 7:18 - for Isaiah 50:10 - is among Micah 6:8 - to do Haggai 1:12 - fear Matthew 13:45 - seeking Luke 10:42 - one Acts 10:35 - feareth 1 Corinthians 7:29 - that both Colossians 3:22 - fearing Revelation 11:18 - and them Revelation 14:7 - Fear
Cross-References
And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.
And I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse; and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.'
And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Shechem, unto the terebinth of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
And he removed from thence unto the mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, having Beth-el on the west, and Ai on the east; and he builded there an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.
And it will come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they will say: This is his wife; and they will kill me, but thee they will keep alive.
Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister; that it may be well with me for thy sake, and that my soul may live because of thee.'
And Abraham said of Sarah his wife: 'She is my sister.' And Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
Said he not himself unto me: She is my sister? and she, even she herself said: He is my brother. In the simplicity of my heart and the innocency of my hands have I done this.'
And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said: 'She is my sister'; for he feared to say: 'My wife'; 'lest the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah, because she is fair to look upon.'
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter,.... Or "the end" o of it. The sum and substance of it, what it all tends to and issues in; even the whole of what is contained in this book, and in all offer divinely inspired writings of Solomon or others; of all that were now written, or before, or since: this the preacher calls upon himself, as well as his hearers, to attend unto. Or it may be rendered, "the end of the whole matter is heard" p; here ends this book; and you have heard the whole of what deserves regard, and it lies in these few words,
fear God, and keep his commandments: "the fear of God" includes the whole of internal religion, or powerful godliness; all the graces of the Spirit, and the exercise of them; reverence of God, love to him, faith in him, and in his Son Jesus Christ; hope of eternal life from him; humility of soul, patience and submission to his will, with every other grace; so the Heathens call religion "metum Deorum" q, the fear of God: and "keeping of the commandments", or obedience to the whole will of God, is the fruit, effect, and evidence of the former; and takes in all the commands of God, moral and positive, whether under the former or present dispensation; and an observance of them in faith, from a principle of love, and with a view to the glory of God;
for this [is] the whole [duty] of man; or, "this is the whole man" r; and makes a man a whole man, perfect, entire, and wanting nothing; whereas, without this, he is nothing, let him have ever so much of the wisdom, wealth, honour, and profits of this world. Or, "this is the whole of every man" s; either, as we supply it, the duty, work, and business of every man, of every son of Adam, be he what he will, high or low, rich or poor, of every age, sex, and condition; or this is the happiness of every man, or that leads to it; this is the whole of it; this is the "summum bonum", or chief happiness of men: Lactantius t says, the "summum bonum" of a man lies in religion only; it lies in this, and not in any outward thing, as is abundantly proved in this book: and this should be the concern of everyone, this being the chief end of man, and what, as Jarchi says, he is born unto; or, as the Targum, such should be the life of every man. The Masoretes begin this verse with a larger letter than usual, and repeat it at the end of the book, though not accentuated, to raise the attention of the reader u; that he may make a particular observation of what is said in it, as being of the greatest moment and importance.
o סוף דבר הכל "finis verbi omnis", Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus; "finis universi negotii", Tigurine version, so Vatablus. p נשמע "auditus est", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Tigurine version, Mercerus. q Horat. Carmin. l. 1. Ode 35. v. 36. r זה כל האדם "hoc (est) omnis homo", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Mercerus; "omnium hominum perfectio", Tigurine version; "hoc est totus homo", Cocceius; "this is all the man", Broughton. s "Hoc est omnium hominum", Piscator, Gejerus; "hoc est totum hominis", Junius & Tremellius. t De Fals. Sap. l. 3, c. 10. u Vid. Buxtorf. Tiberius, c. 14. p. 38.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
This passage is properly regarded as the Epilogue of the whole book; a kind of apology for the obscurity of many of its sayings. The passage serves therefore to make the book more intelligible and more acceptable.
Here, as in the beginning of the book Ecclesiastes 1:1-2, the Preacher speaks of himself Ecclesiastes 12:8-10 in the third person. He first repeats Ecclesiastes 12:8 the mournful, perplexing theme with which his musings began Ecclesiastes 1:2; and then states the encouraging practical conclusion Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 to which they have led him. It has been pointed out that the Epilogue assumes the identity of the Preacher with the writer of the Book of Proverbs.
Ecclesiastes 12:11
literally, Words of wise men are as goads, and as nails driven in (by) masters of assemblies; they are given from one shepherd: “goads,” because they rouse the hearer and impel him to right actions; “nails” (perhaps tent-spikes), because they remain fixed in the memory: “masters of assemblies” are simply “teachers” or “preachers” (see Ecclesiastes 1:1 note), instructors of such assemblies as Wisdom addresses Proverbs 1:20.
One shepherd - i. e., God, who is the supreme Giver of wisdom Proverbs 2:6, and the chief Shepherd Jeremiah 23:1-4. Compare 1 Corinthians 2:12-13.
Ecclesiastes 12:12
By these - i. e., “By the words of wise men.”
Books - Rather, “Writings.” Probably the proverbs current in the Preacher’s age, including, though not especially indicating, his own.
The Preacher protests against the folly of protracted, unprofitable, meditation.
Ecclesiastes 12:13
literally, “The conclusion of the discourse” (or “word,” = words, Ecclesiastes 1:1), “the whole, let us hear.”
The whole duty of man - Rather, the whole man. To revere God and to obey Him is the whole man, constitutes man’s whole being; that only is conceded to Man; all other things, as this book teaches again and again, are dependent on a Higher Incomprehensible Being.
Ecclesiastes 12:14
Judgment with - Rather, judgment (which shall be held) upon etc.: i. e., an appointed judgment which shall take place in another world, as distinct from that retribution which frequently follows man’s actions in the course of this world, and which is too imperfect (compare Ecclesiastes 2:15; Ecclesiastes 4:1; Ecclesiastes 7:15; Ecclesiastes 9:2, ...) to be described by these expressions. He that is fully convinced that there is no solid happiness to be found in this world, and that there is a world to come wherein God will adjudge people to happiness or misery respectively, as they have made their choice and acted here, must necessarily subscribe to the truth of Solomon’s conclusion, that true religion is the only way to true happiness.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 13. After all, the sum of the great business of human life is comprised in this short sentence, on which some millions of books have been already written!
FEAR GOD, AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS
1. Know that HE IS, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
2. Reverence him; pay him adoration.
3. Love him, that you may be happy.
Keep his commandments — They are contained in two words:
1. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart;"
2. "And thy neighbour as thyself."
Blessed be God, much reading and much study are not necessary to accomplish this, which is called כל האדם col haadam, the whole of Adam; the whole that God required of the first man and of all his posterity. But the Gospel of Jesus Christ must be understood to comprehend the full force of this short saying.
The word duty, added here by our translators, spoils, if not PERVERTS, the sense.
The whole passage is rendered with great simplicity by Coverdale: -
"The same preacher was not wyse alone: but taught the people knowledge also. He gave good hede, sought out the grounde, and set forth many parables. His diligence was to fynde out acceptable wordes, right scripture, and the wordes of trueth. For the wordes of the wyse are like prickes and nales that go thorow, wherewith men are kepte together: for they are geven of one Shepherd onely. Therefore be warre (my sonne) that above these thou make thee not many and innumerable bookes, nor take dyverse doctrynes in hande, to weery thy body withall.
"Let us heare the conclusion of all thinges; Feare God, and kepe his comaundementes, for that toucheth all men; for God shall judge all workes and secrete thinges, whether they be good or evell."
I shall give the same from my old MS. Bible: -
And wan Ecclesiastes was most wiis he taght the peple, and told out what he had don, and enserchinge maade many parablis. He soght profitable wordis, and wrote most right sermons, and ful of trewth, The wordis of wismen as prickis and as nailis into herte pigt: that bi the counseyle of maisteris ben geven of oon scheperd. More thann thes sone myn, ne seche thou; of making many bokes is noon eend, and oft bethinking is tormenting of the flesche. Eend of spekinge alle togydir heere mee. Drede God, and his hestis kepe; that is eche man. Alle thingis that ben maad schal bringen into dome, for eche erid thinge, whithir good or evyl it be.
