Ecclesiastes 12:12
Concluding Exhortation: Fear God and Obey His Commands! Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. There is no end to the making of many books, and much study is exhausting to the body.
Additional Resources
Referenced Verses
- Eccl 1:18 : 18 For with great wisdom comes great frustration; whoever increases his knowledge merely increases his heartache.
- Luke 16:29-31 : 29 But Abraham said,‘They have Moses and the prophets; they must respond to them.’ 30 Then the rich man said,‘No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 He replied to him,‘If they do not respond to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
- John 5:39 : 39 You study the scriptures thoroughly because you think in them you possess eternal life, and it is these same scriptures that testify about me,
- John 20:31 : 31 But these are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
- John 21:25 : 25 There are many other things that Jesus did. If every one of them were written down, I suppose the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
- 2 Pet 1:19-21 : 19 Moreover, we possess the prophetic word as an altogether reliable thing. You do well if you pay attention to this as you would to a light shining in a murky place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you do well if you recognize this: No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet’s own imagination, 21 for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
- 1 Kgs 4:32 : 32 He composed 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs.
Similar Verses (AI)
These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.
- 77%
13 Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.
- Eccl 1:17-182 verses75%
17 So I decided to discern the benefit of wisdom and knowledge over foolish behavior and ideas; however, I concluded that even this endeavor is like trying to chase the wind!
18 For with great wisdom comes great frustration; whoever increases his knowledge merely increases his heartache.
- 74%
11 The words of the sages are like prods, and the collected sayings are like firmly fixed nails; they are given by one shepherd.
- Eccl 12:8-92 verses74%
8 Concluding Refrain: Qoheleth Restates His Thesis“Absolutely futile!” laments the Teacher,“All of these things are futile!”
9 Concluding Epilogue: Qoheleth’s Advice is Wise Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught knowledge to the people; he carefully evaluated and arranged many proverbs.
- Eccl 1:13-153 verses73%
13 I decided to carefully and thoroughly examine all that has been accomplished on earth. I concluded: God has given people a burdensome task that keeps them occupied.
14 I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man on earth, and I concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile– like chasing the wind!
15 What is bent cannot be straightened, and what is missing cannot be supplied.
- Eccl 2:10-123 verses72%
10 I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted; I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure. So all my accomplishments gave me joy; this was my reward for all my effort.
11 Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, I concluded:“All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless– like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth.”
12 Wisdom is Better than Folly Next, I decided to consider wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas. For what more can the king’s successor do than what the king has already done?
- 72%
16 There is no end to all the people nor to the past generations, yet future generations will not rejoice in him. This also is profitless and like chasing the wind.
- Eccl 1:8-92 verses72%
8 All this monotony is tiresome; no one can bear to describe it: The eye is never satisfied with seeing, nor is the ear ever content with hearing.
9 What exists now is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing truly new on earth.
- Eccl 2:19-257 verses72%
19 Who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will be master over all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so wisely on earth! This also is futile!
20 So I began to despair about all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so hard on earth.
21 For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; however, he must hand over the fruit of his labor as an inheritance to someone else who did not work for it. This also is futile, and an awful injustice!
22 Painful Days and Restless Nights What does a man acquire from all his labor and from the anxiety that accompanies his toil on earth?
23 For all day long his work produces pain and frustration, and even at night his mind cannot relax! This also is futile!
24 Enjoy Work and its Benefits There is nothing better for people than to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in their work. I also perceived that this ability to find enjoyment comes from God.
25 For no one can eat and drink or experience joy apart from him.
- Eccl 1:1-33 verses70%
1 ¶ Title The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
2 Introduction: Utter Futility“Futile! Futile!” laments the Teacher,“Absolutely futile! Everything is futile!”
3 Futility Illustrated from Nature What benefit do people get from all the effort which they expend on earth?
- 70%
11 The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes. How does that benefit him?
- 70%
8 A man who is all alone with no companion, he has no children nor siblings; yet there is no end to all his toil, and he is never satisfied with riches. He laments,“For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is futile and a burdensome task!
- Eccl 8:16-172 verses70%
16 Limitations of Human Wisdom When I tried to gain wisdom and to observe the activity on earth– even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night–
17 then I discerned all that God has done: No one really comprehends what happens on earth. Despite all human efforts to discover it, no one can ever grasp it. Even if a wise person claimed that he understood, he would not really comprehend it.
- 70%
17 So I loathed life because what happens on earth seems awful to me; for all the benefits of wisdom are futile– like chasing the wind.
- 69%
12 Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?
- 69%
6 Better is one handful with some rest than two hands full of toil and chasing the wind.
- 69%
7 All of man’s labor is for nothing more than to fill his stomach– yet his appetite is never satisfied!
- Eccl 3:9-102 verses69%
9 Man is Ignorant of God’s Timing What benefit can a worker gain from his toil?
10 I have observed the burden that God has given to people to keep them occupied.
- 69%
9 It is better to be content with what the eyes can see than for one’s heart always to crave more. This continual longing is futile– like chasing the wind.
- 68%
4 Do not wear yourself out to become rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.
- 68%
7 Just as there is futility in many dreams, so also in many words. Therefore, fear God!
- 68%
11 My child, do not despise discipline from the LORD, and do not loathe his rebuke.
- 68%
25 True Righteousness and Wisdom Are Virtually Nonexistent I tried to understand, examine, and comprehend the role of wisdom in the scheme of things, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the insanity of folly.
- 68%
4 Labor Motivated by Envy Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless– like chasing the wind.
- 68%
27 If you stop listening to instruction, my child, you will stray from the words of knowledge.
- 67%
16 This is another misfortune: Just as he came, so will he go. What did he gain from toiling for the wind?
- 67%
16 So do not be excessively righteous or excessively wise; otherwise you might be disappointed.
- Prov 14:12-132 verses67%
12 There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way that leads to death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief.
- 67%
8 So, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all, but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many– all that is about to come is obscure.
- 67%
12 Enjoy Life in the Present I have concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they live,
- 67%
19 Listen, my child, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right way.
- 67%
15 My child, do not go down their way, withhold yourself from their path;