Read & explore together
The Whole Duty of Man
These verses describe the Preacher’s careful work, the effect of wise words, a warning about many books and weary study, and a final conclusion about how people should live before God.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
The passage speaks about the Preacher as a wise teacher who arranged proverbs and sought truthful words. It then compares wise words to goads and firmly fixed nails, gives an admonition about many books and much study, and ends with a clear conclusion about fearing God, keeping his commandments, and God’s judgement.
Ecclesiastes 12:9–14Main takeaway
Wise words are valuable, but this passage’s final conclusion is to fear God and keep his commandments because God judges every deed.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01The Preacher taught with careThe passage begins by describing the Preacher as wise and careful in teaching. He taught the people knowledge, pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
Explanation
The passage begins by describing the Preacher as wise and careful in teaching. He taught the people knowledge, pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs. Wisdom here is not careless speech. It is thoughtful, deliberate teaching intended to pass on knowledge to others.
02Wise words can move and steadyThe Preacher sought acceptable words and wrote words of truth blamelessly. Then the words of the wise are compared to goads and well-fastened nails.
Explanation
The Preacher sought acceptable words and wrote words of truth blamelessly. Then the words of the wise are compared to goads and well-fastened nails. These pictures show that wise words may press people onward and also make something firm. The verse says these words are given from one shepherd.
03A warning about many booksThe speaker then says, “my son, be admonished”. There is no end to making many books, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
Explanation
The speaker then says, “my son, be admonished”. There is no end to making many books, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The warning stays close to those plain words, and the passage then turns from that weariness to its final conclusion.
04The final conclusionAfter saying, “All has been heard,” the passage gives its conclusion: fear God and keep his commandments.
Explanation
After saying, “All has been heard,” the passage gives its conclusion: fear God and keep his commandments. It then gives the reason. God will bring every work into judgement, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil. The conclusion is grounded in God’s judgement of all deeds.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What actions show that the Preacher handled wisdom carefully?
Notice the verbs that describe his work of teaching, pondering, seeking out, and setting proverbs in order.
02How do the pictures of goads and well-fastened nails help explain wise words?
Use the images in the verse itself to describe how wise words can press, guide, or make something firm.
03What conclusion does the passage give, and what reason follows it?
Read the command in Ecclesiastes 12:13 and then the explanation about judgment in Ecclesiastes 12:14.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Ecclesiastes 12:9–14
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.