Ecclesiastes 12:13

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Deut 10:12 : 12 An Exhortation to Love Both God and People Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you except to revere him, to obey all his commandments, to love him, to serve him with all your mind and being,
  • Eccl 5:7 : 7 Just as there is futility in many dreams, so also in many words. Therefore, fear God!
  • Deut 6:2 : 2 and that you may so revere the LORD your God that you will keep all his statutes and commandments that I am giving you– you, your children, and your grandchildren– all your lives, to prolong your days.
  • Eccl 8:12 : 12 Even though a sinner might commit a hundred crimes and still live a long time, yet I know that it will go well with God-fearing people– for they stand in fear before him.
  • Mic 6:8 : 8 He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the LORD really wants from you: He wants you to carry out justice, to love faithfulness, and to live obediently before your God.
  • Luke 1:50 : 50 from generation to generation he is merciful to those who fear him.
  • Eccl 6:12 : 12 For no one knows what is best for a person during his life– during the few days of his fleeting life– for they pass away like a shadow. Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth.
  • Prov 19:23 : 23 Fearing the LORD leads to life, and one who does so will live satisfied; he will not be afflicted by calamity.
  • Job 28:28 : 28 And he said to mankind,‘The fear of the LORD– that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
  • Ps 111:10-112:1 : 10 To obey the LORD is the fundamental principle for wise living; all who carry out his precepts acquire good moral insight. He will receive praise forever. 1 Praise the LORD! How blessed is the one who obeys the LORD, who takes great delight in keeping his commands.
  • Deut 4:2 : 2 Do not add a thing to what I command you nor subtract from it, so that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I am delivering to you.
  • Ps 145:19 : 19 He satisfies the desire of his loyal followers; he hears their cry for help and delivers them.
  • Ps 147:11 : 11 The LORD takes delight in his faithful followers, and in those who wait for his loyal love.
  • Prov 1:7 : 7 Introduction to the Theme of the Book Fearing the LORD is the beginning of discernment, but fools have despised wisdom and moral instruction.
  • Gen 22:12 : 12 “Do not harm the boy!” the angel said.“Do not do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God because you did not withhold your son, your only son, from me.”
  • Ps 115:13-15 : 13 He will bless his loyal followers, both young and old. 14 May he increase your numbers, yours and your children’s! 15 May you be blessed by the LORD, the Creator of heaven and earth!
  • Prov 23:17 : 17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but rather be zealous in fearing the LORD all the time.
  • 1 Pet 2:17 : 17 Honor all people, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king.
  • Rev 19:5 : 5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying:“Praise our God all you his servants, and all you who fear him, both the small and the great!”
  • Eccl 2:3 : 3 I thought deeply about the effects of indulging myself with wine(all the while my mind was guiding me with wisdom) and the effects of behaving foolishly, so that I might discover what is profitable for people to do on earth during the few days of their lives.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Eccl 12:14
    78%

    14For God will evaluate every deed, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.

  • Eccl 12:12
    77%

    12Concluding 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.

  • Eccl 3:10-15
    6 verses
    74%

    10I have observed the burden that God has given to people to keep them occupied.

    11God has made everything fit beautifully in its appropriate time, but he has also placed ignorance in the human heart so that people cannot discover what God has ordained, from the beginning to the end of their lives.

    12Enjoy 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,

    13and also that everyone should eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all his toil, for these things are a gift from God.

    14God’s Sovereignty I also know that whatever God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken away from it. God has made it this way, so that men will fear him.

    15Whatever exists now has already been, and whatever will be has already been; for God will seek to do again what has occurred in the past.

  • Ps 111:10
    73%

    10To obey the LORD is the fundamental principle for wise living; all who carry out his precepts acquire good moral insight. He will receive praise forever.

  • Eccl 12:7-8
    2 verses
    73%

    7and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the life’s breath returns to God who gave it.

    8Concluding Refrain: Qoheleth Restates His Thesis“Absolutely futile!” laments the Teacher,“All of these things are futile!”

  • Eccl 7:18
    71%

    18It is best to take hold of one warning without letting go of the other warning; for the one who fears God will follow both warnings.

  • Job 5:27
    71%

    27Look, we have investigated this, so it is true. Hear it, and apply it for your own good.”

  • Job 28:28
    71%

    28And he said to mankind,‘The fear of the LORD– that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

  • Ps 112:1
    71%

    1Praise the LORD! How blessed is the one who obeys the LORD, who takes great delight in keeping his commands.

  • Prov 19:23
    71%

    23Fearing the LORD leads to life, and one who does so will live satisfied; he will not be afflicted by calamity.

  • Eccl 3:22
    70%

    22So I perceived there is nothing better than for people to enjoy their work, because that is their reward; for who can show them what the future holds?

  • Prov 14:12
    70%

    12There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way that leads to death.

  • Eccl 8:5
    70%

    5Whoever obeys his command will not experience harm, and a wise person knows the proper time and procedure.

  • Job 34:15-16
    2 verses
    69%

    15all flesh would perish together and human beings would return to dust.

    16God Is Impartial and Omniscient“If you have understanding, listen to this, hear what I have to say.

  • Eccl 11:8-9
    2 verses
    69%

    8So, 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.

    9Enjoy Life to the Fullest under the Fear of God Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes, but know that God will judge your motives and actions.

  • Eccl 1:13
    69%

    13I 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.

  • Ps 90:12
    69%

    12So teach us to consider our mortality, so that we might live wisely.

  • Eccl 6:11-12
    2 verses
    69%

    11The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes. How does that benefit him?

    12For no one knows what is best for a person during his life– during the few days of his fleeting life– for they pass away like a shadow. Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth.

  • Eccl 3:20
    69%

    20Both go to the same place, both come from the dust, and to dust both return.

  • Eccl 9:1
    69%

    1Everyone Will Die So I reflected on all this, attempting to clear it all up. I concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their works, are in the hand of God; whether a person will be loved or hated– no one knows what lies ahead.

  • Eccl 9:10
    69%

    10Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, because there is neither work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave, the place where you will eventually go.

  • Ps 64:9
    69%

    9and all people will fear. They will proclaim what God has done, and reflect on his deeds.

  • Deut 10:13
    69%

    13and to keep the LORD’s commandments and statutes that I am giving you today for your own good?

  • Eccl 2:24
    68%

    24Enjoy 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.

  • Eccl 1:2-3
    2 verses
    68%

    2Introduction: Utter Futility“Futile! Futile!” laments the Teacher,“Absolutely futile! Everything is futile!”

    3Futility Illustrated from Nature What benefit do people get from all the effort which they expend on earth?

  • Prov 9:10
    68%

    10The beginning of wisdom is to fear the LORD, and acknowledging the Holy One is understanding.

  • Ps 33:8
    68%

    8Let the whole earth fear the LORD! Let all who live in the world stand in awe of him!

  • Deut 12:32
    68%

    32Idolatry and False Prophets(13:1) You must be careful to do everything I am commanding you. Do not add to it or subtract from it!

  • Eccl 8:2
    68%

    2Obey the king’s command, because you took an oath before God to be loyal to him.

  • 1 Sam 12:24
    68%

    24However, fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. Just look at the great things he has done for you!

  • Eccl 7:2
    68%

    2It is better to go to a funeral than a feast. For death is the destiny of every person, and the living should take this to heart.

  • Eccl 5:7
    68%

    7Just as there is futility in many dreams, so also in many words. Therefore, fear God!

  • Eccl 12:1
    68%

    1Fear God Now Because Old Age and Death Come Quickly So remember your Creator in the days of your youth– before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you will say,“I have no pleasure in them”;

  • Eccl 1:9
    68%

    9What exists now is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing truly new on earth.

  • Eccl 8:12
    68%

    12Even though a sinner might commit a hundred crimes and still live a long time, yet I know that it will go well with God-fearing people– for they stand in fear before him.

  • Eccl 5:18
    68%

    18Enjoy the Fruit of Your Labor I have seen personally what is the only beneficial and appropriate course of action for people: to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all their hard work on earth during the few days of their life which God has given them, for this is their reward.

  • Dan 12:13
    68%

    13But you should go your way until the end. You will rest and then at the end of the days you will arise to receive what you have been allotted.”

  • Prov 13:13
    67%

    13The one who despises instruction will pay the penalty, but whoever esteems direction will be rewarded.

  • Ps 19:9
    67%

    9The commands to fear the LORD are right and endure forever. The judgments given by the LORD are trustworthy and absolutely just.

  • Eccl 9:3
    67%

    3This is the unfortunate fact about everything that happens on earth: the same fate awaits everyone. In addition to this, the hearts of all people are full of evil, and there is folly in their hearts during their lives– then they die.