Ecclesiastes 12#Verse 8

The original text was written in Hebrew. This chapter is divided into 14 verses.

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes Codex Leningradensis (1008).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=35-37}}{{efn|Since the anti-Jewish riots in Aleppo in 1947 the whole book has been missing from the Aleppo Codex.{{citation | author=P. W. Skehan | contribution=BIBLE (TEXTS) | title=New Catholic Encyclopedia | edition=2nd | volume=2 | publisher=Gale | year=2003 | pages=355–362}}}}

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; $\backslash mathfrak\{G\}$^B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: $\backslash mathfrak\{G\}$^S; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; $\backslash mathfrak\{G\}$^A; 5th century).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=73-74}} The Greek text is probably derived from the work of Aquila of Sinope or his followers.{{sfn|Weeks|2007|p=423}}

The New King James Version divides this chapter into two parts:

• {{bibleref2|Ecclesiastes|12:1–8|NKJV}} = Seek God in early life
• {{bibleref2|Ecclesiastes|12:9–14|NKJV}} = The whole duty of man

Weeks and Eaton see verses 1–8 as a continuation of chapter 11.{{sfn|Eaton|1994|p=618}}{{sfn|Weeks|2007|p=428}} Verses 9–14 constitute an epilogue to the whole book.{{sfn|Weeks|2007|p=428}}

This part reminds the people to look not only to the life of joy but also to its Creator.{{sfn|Eaton|1994|p=618}} Verses 2–7 are considered to contain metaphorical and picturesque descriptions of the physical degeneration accompanying old age,{{sfn|Weeks|2007|p=428}} until the end of life, depicted as the end of the world,{{sfn|Coogan|2007|p=957 Hebrew Bible}} all in one Hebrew sentence (verses 1–7).{{sfn|Eaton|1994|p=618}} There is a Sumerian poem applying the same style to the same topic.{{sfn|Weeks|2007|p=428}}

:Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, "I have no pleasure in them";{{bibleref2|Ecclesiastes|12:1|ESV}} ESV

• "Creator": provides a link to the creation in verse 7.{{sfn|Coogan|2007|p=957 Hebrew Bible}} The "evil" days are rendered as the "difficult" days by the New King James Version.{{bibleref2|Ecclesiastes|12:1|NKJV}}: NKJV

before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern

File:Beth Jacob Cemetery 36.jpg.]]

:Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.{{bibleverse|Ecclesiastes|12:7|KJV}} KJV

This verse certainly depicts death,{{sfn|Weeks|2007|p=428}} echoing {{bibleverse|Genesis|2:7|KJV}}; {{bibleverse-nb|Genesis|3:19|KJV}}.{{sfn|Coogan|2007|p=957 Hebrew Bible}}

:Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.{{bibleverse|Ecclesiastes|12:8|KJV}} KJV

This verse and Ecclesiastes 1:2 with the same words form an inclusio, together framing the body of the book.{{sfn|Coogan|2007|p=957 Hebrew Bible}}

File:Herrenchiemsee Kloster - Bibliothekssaal 2 Eingang Motto.jpg

This section provides an assessment and apology for Qoheleth and the book.{{sfn|Coogan|2007|p=957 Hebrew Bible}} The final admonition:{{quote|¹³ Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. ¹⁴ For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil {{bibleverse|Ecclesiastes|12:13-14|NKJV}}: NKJV}}points to the conclusion in a formula establishing authority of the text,{{sfn|Coogan|2007|p=957 Hebrew Bible}} that one should fear God and obey God's commandments, as there will be judgment.{{sfn|Weeks|2007|p=429}}

• Related Bible parts: Job 9, Ecclesiastes 1

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book|last= Coogan|first = Michael David| author-link= Michael D. Coogan |title = The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books: New Revised Standard Version, Issue 48 |editor-last1=Coogan |editor-first1=Michael David |editor-first2=Marc Zvi |editor-last2= Brettler |editor-first3=Carol Ann |editor-last3= Newsom |editor-first4= Pheme |editor-last4= Perkins |edition= Augmented 3rd |publisher = Oxford University Press |year =2007 |isbn = 9780195288810 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=HmpMPgAACAAJ}}
• {{cite book|last= Eaton| first= Michael A. | chapter= Ecclesiastes| editor-last=Carson |editor-first=D. A. |title=New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition| editor-link= D. A. Carson| editor-last2= France |editor-first2= R. T. | editor2-link= R. T. France |editor-first3=J. A. |editor-last3= Motyer | editor3-link = J. Alec Motyer| editor-first4= G. J. |editor-last4= Wenham | editor4-link = Gordon Wenham| edition=4, illustrated, reprint, revised| publisher= Inter-Varsity Press | date= 1994| isbn = 9780851106489 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=uveHQgAACAAJ |pages= 609–618}}
• {{cite book|last= Halley| first= Henry H.| author-link= Henry Hampton Halley| title= Halley's Bible Handbook: an abbreviated Bible commentary |edition=24th (revised)|publisher= Zondervan Publishing House |date= 1965 |url= https://archive.org/details/halleysbiblehand00henr |url-access= registration| isbn= 0-310-25720-4}}
• {{cite book|last= Weeks | first= Stuart |chapter = 20. Ecclesiastes | title=The Oxford Bible Commentary | editor-first1=John| editor-last1=Barton |editor1-link = John Barton (theologian) | editor-first2=John| editor-last2= Muddiman |editor2-link = John Muddiman | publisher = Oxford University Press |edition= first (paperback) | date = 2007 | pages = 423–429 | isbn = 978-0199277186 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJdVkgEACAAJ| access-date=February 6, 2019}}
• {{cite book | last = Würthwein | first = Ernst | author-link = Ernst Würthwein | title = The Text of the Old Testament | publisher = Wm. B. Eerdmans |location = Grand Rapids, MI | year= 1995 | translator-first1 = Erroll F.| translator-last1 = Rhodes |isbn = 0-8028-0788-7 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=FSNKSBObCYwC | access-date= January 26, 2019}}

{{wikisource|Ecclesiastes (Bible)|Ecclesiastes}}

{{wiktionary|Ecclesiastes}}

• Jewish translations:
• [https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16473 Kohelet – Ecclesiastes - Chapter 12 (Judaica Press)] translation [with Rashi's commentary] at Chabad.org
• Christian translations:
• [http://www.gospelhall.org/bible/bible.php?passage=Ecclesiastes+12 Online Bible at GospelHall.org] (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
• [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=25&chapter=12&version=9 Ecclesiastes Chapter 12 King James Version]
• {{librivox book | title=Ecclesiastes}} Various versions

{{Ecclesiastes}}

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