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  • Ecclesiastes 12
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Ecclesiastes Outline

      • Remember the Creator before old age sets in (1-8)

      • The congregator’s conclusion (9-14)

        • Wise words like oxgoads (11)

        • Fear the true God (13)

Ecclesiastes 12:1

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “the calamitous days.”

Marginal References

  • +Ps 71:17; 148:7, 12; Lu 2:48, 49; 2Ti 3:15
  • +Ps 90:10

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    7/15/2015, pp. 12-13

    1/15/2014, pp. 18, 22-23

    7/1/2011, pp. 8-9

    4/15/2010, pp. 3-4

    4/15/2008, pp. 12-16

    6/15/2005, p. 28

    5/1/2004, pp. 13-14

    11/15/1999, pp. 13-18

    9/1/1999, pp. 20-21

    8/15/1998, pp. 8-9

    12/15/1996, p. 30

    12/1/1996, pp. 15-20

    8/1/1990, pp. 13-14

    11/15/1987, p. 16

    6/1/1987, pp. 4-5

    8/1/1986, pp. 17, 18-19

    1/1/1986, p. 28

    Young People Ask, Volume 2, pp. 312-313

    Awake!,

    7/8/2004, pp. 8-9

  • Publications Index

    w15 7/15 12-13; w14 1/15 18, 22-23; w11 7/1 8-9; w10 4/15 3-4; w08 4/15 12-16; yp2 312-313; w05 6/15 28; w04 5/1 13-14; g04 7/8 8-9; w99 9/1 21; w99 11/15 13-18; w98 8/15 8-9; w96 12/1 15-20; w96 12/15 30; w90 8/1 13-14; w87 6/1 4-5; w87 11/15 16; w86 1/1 28; w86 8/1 17-19;

    w84 6/15 12-13; km 7/80 3-4; w79 4/1 10; w77 745-746; w76 763; yy 31, 191-192; w73 702; km 5/73 3; w70 92; w68 658; qm 256; w66 484; im 148; w64 676; w63 366; bf 121; w62 493; g62 3/22 18; w61 185, 569; g61 4/8 7; g61 5/22 12; g61 10/22 27; w60 531; w58 437; w57 701; qm55 256; w48 380; w45 340

Ecclesiastes 12:2

Footnotes

  • *

    Or possibly, “with.”

Marginal References

  • +1Sa 4:15

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Insight, Volume 2, p. 1033

    The Watchtower,

    11/15/1999, pp. 14-15

  • Publications Index

    it-2 1033; w99 11/15 15;

    w84 6/15 12-13; w77 745-746; w76 586; ad 1552; g61 5/22 12; w48 380; w45 343

Ecclesiastes 12:3

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “keepers.”

  • *

    Or “tremble.”

Marginal References

  • +Ge 48:10

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Insight, Volume 1, p. 1154

    Life and Ministry Meeting Workbook,

    11/2016, p. 6

    The Watchtower,

    11/15/2008, p. 23

    11/15/1999, p. 15

  • Publications Index

    it-1 1154; mwb16.11 6; w08 11/15 23; w99 11/15 15;

    w84 6/15 12-13; w77 746; w72 412; ad 799; w48 380; w45 344

Ecclesiastes 12:4

Marginal References

  • +2Sa 19:34, 35

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Insight, Volume 1, p. 645

    Life and Ministry Meeting Workbook,

    11/2016, p. 6

    The Watchtower,

    11/15/1999, pp. 15-16

  • Publications Index

    it-1 645; mwb16.11 6; w99 11/15 15-16;

    w84 6/15 12-13; w77 746; w72 412, 414; ad 462; w48 380; w45 344

Ecclesiastes 12:5

Marginal References

  • +Pr 16:31
  • +Job 30:23; Ec 9:10
  • +Ge 50:7, 10

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Insight, Volume 1, pp. 79, 410, 994, 1154

    Life and Ministry Meeting Workbook,

    11/2016, p. 6

    The Watchtower,

    11/1/2005, pp. 22-23

    11/15/1999, pp. 16-17

  • Publications Index

    it-1 79, 410, 994, 1154; mwb16.11 6; w05 11/1 22-23; w99 11/15 16-17;

    w84 6/15 12-13; w77 287; w77 746; ad 56, 292-293, 682, 799; w48 380; w45 344

Ecclesiastes 12:6

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Insight, Volume 1, pp. 507, 983, 1050

    Insight, Volume 2, p. 1154

    The Watchtower,

    11/15/1999, p. 17

  • Publications Index

    it-1 507, 983, 1050; it-2 1154; w99 11/15 17; yp 276;

    w84 6/15 13; w77 746; w73 78; ad 377, 674, 723, 1635; w48 380; w46 6; g46 8/22 23; w45 345

Ecclesiastes 12:7

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “life force.”

Marginal References

  • +Ge 3:19; Ps 146:4
  • +Ge 2:7; Job 27:3; 34:14, 15; Ps 104:29; Isa 42:5

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Insight, Volume 2, p. 1025

    Bible Teach, p. 211

    The Watchtower,

    7/15/2001, pp. 5-6

    11/15/1999, p. 17

    4/1/1999, p. 17

    10/15/1996, pp. 5-6

    6/15/1994, pp. 5-6

    When We Die, p. 24

    Mankind’s Search for God, pp. 153-154

    Live Forever, p. 79

    Reasoning, p. 378

  • Publications Index

    it-2 1025; bh 211; w01 7/15 5-6; w99 4/1 17; w99 11/15 17; ie 24; w96 10/15 5-6; w94 6/15 5-6; sh 153-154; pe 79; rs 378;

    w81 1/1 31; tr 40; w77 746; gh 93; ts 47-53; g72 8/8 27-28; ad 1547; g69 11/8 28; w68 6, 285, 662; im 148-149; g64 6/8 27; w63 241, 502; g60 12/22 27-28; w59 91; g59 6/8 6; yw 64; g58 5/22 7; w57 430, 701; w55 537-538; dh 29, 31; w54 279, 362; nh 88; w51 223; w48 343, 380; w45 345; tf 108; he 18; w30 173

Ecclesiastes 12:8

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “vanity.”

Marginal References

  • +1Ki 8:1
  • +Ec 1:2, 14

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Insight, Volume 1, p. 1137

    The Watchtower,

    11/15/1999, p. 19

  • Publications Index

    it-1 1137; w99 11/15 19;

    fl 180; li 53; w57 689; w48 381; w45 345

Ecclesiastes 12:9

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “arrange in order.”

Marginal References

  • +1Ki 10:1, 3, 6, 8
  • +1Ki 4:29, 32; Pr 1:1

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Insight, Volume 1, p. 1204

    The Watchtower,

    11/15/1999, p. 21

    “All Scripture,” p. 107

  • Publications Index

    it-1 1204; w99 11/15 21; si 107;

    w78 1/1 30; g72 2/8 28; ad 833; g71 11/8 27; w57 689; w45 346

Ecclesiastes 12:10

Marginal References

  • +Pr 16:24; 25:11

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Enjoy Life Forever!, lesson 3

    Insight, Volume 1, p. 1204

    The Watchtower,

    1/1/2008, pp. 10-11

    11/15/1999, p. 21

    12/15/1990, p. 26

    School Guidebook, pp. 6, 15

  • Publications Index

    lff lesson 3; it-1 1204; w08 1/1 10-11; w99 11/15 21; sg 6, 15; w90 12/15 26;

    w78 1/1 30; w73 535; g72 2/8 28; ad 833; g71 11/8 27; w69 681; w65 657; w57 689; w56 633; w45 346

Ecclesiastes 12:11

Marginal References

  • +Ac 2:37; Heb 4:12

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Insight, Volume 1, p. 965

    Insight, Volume 2, p. 463

    The Watchtower,

    3/15/2012, p. 9

    11/1/2006, p. 16

    12/1/2004, p. 32

    12/15/1999, p. 30

    11/15/1999, p. 21

    School Guidebook, p. 6

  • Publications Index

    it-1 965; it-2 463; w12 3/15 9; w06 11/1 16; w04 12/1 32; w99 11/15 21; w99 12/15 30; sg 6;

    w78 1/1 30-31; fl 159-160; g78 1/22 3-4; w73 535; ad 663, 1200; w56 358; w50 24; w45 347

Ecclesiastes 12:12

Marginal References

  • +Ec 1:18

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Insight, Volume 1, p. 355

    Insight, Volume 2, p. 182

    The Watchtower,

    12/1/2004, p. 32

    10/1/2000, p. 10

    11/15/1999, pp. 21-22

    8/1/1997, p. 30

    9/15/1987, p. 25

    4/15/1986, p. 3

  • Publications Index

    it-1 355; it-2 182; w04 12/1 32; w00 10/1 10; w99 11/15 21-22; w97 8/1 30; yp 283; w87 9/15 25; w86 4/15 3;

    g83 12/22 17; g82 4/22 6; w78 1/1 30-31; g78 1/22 3; g75 12/8 22-23; w73 207; w63 654; w56 280; w45 347

Ecclesiastes 12:13

Marginal References

  • +Job 28:28; Ps 111:10; Pr 1:7
  • +1Jo 5:3
  • +De 6:1, 2; 10:12

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Enjoy Life Forever!, lesson 25

    The Watchtower (Public),

    No. 1 2017, p. 14

    The Watchtower,

    11/1/2011, p. 21

    11/15/1999, pp. 22-23

    2/15/1997, pp. 13-18

    12/1/1987, p. 10

    9/15/1987, pp. 24-25

  • Publications Index

    lff lesson 25; wp17.1 14; w11 11/1 21; w99 11/15 22-23; w97 2/15 13-18; w87 9/15 24-25; w87 12/1 10;

    g80 5/8 11; g79 8/22 11; w78 1/1 31; g76 9/22 4; w73 188-189; w73 640; w68 302; w66 139; w64 131, 680; w63 496; w57 583, 702; w45 347

Ecclesiastes 12:14

Marginal References

  • +Ps 62:12; Ec 11:9; Mt 12:36, 37; Ac 17:31; 2Co 5:10; 1Ti 5:24

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    11/15/1999, pp. 22-23

    9/15/1987, p. 25

  • Publications Index

    w99 11/15 22; w87 9/15 25;

    w78 1/1 31; w73 640; w63 496; w57 702; w45 347

Parallel Translations

Click a verse number to display parallel Bible verses.

General

Eccl. 12:1Ps 71:17; 148:7, 12; Lu 2:48, 49; 2Ti 3:15
Eccl. 12:1Ps 90:10
Eccl. 12:21Sa 4:15
Eccl. 12:3Ge 48:10
Eccl. 12:42Sa 19:34, 35
Eccl. 12:5Pr 16:31
Eccl. 12:5Job 30:23; Ec 9:10
Eccl. 12:5Ge 50:7, 10
Eccl. 12:7Ge 3:19; Ps 146:4
Eccl. 12:7Ge 2:7; Job 27:3; 34:14, 15; Ps 104:29; Isa 42:5
Eccl. 12:81Ki 8:1
Eccl. 12:8Ec 1:2, 14
Eccl. 12:91Ki 10:1, 3, 6, 8
Eccl. 12:91Ki 4:29, 32; Pr 1:1
Eccl. 12:10Pr 16:24; 25:11
Eccl. 12:11Ac 2:37; Heb 4:12
Eccl. 12:12Ec 1:18
Eccl. 12:13Job 28:28; Ps 111:10; Pr 1:7
Eccl. 12:131Jo 5:3
Eccl. 12:13De 6:1, 2; 10:12
Eccl. 12:14Ps 62:12; Ec 11:9; Mt 12:36, 37; Ac 17:31; 2Co 5:10; 1Ti 5:24
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New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
Ecclesiastes 12:1-14

Ecclesiastes

12 Remember, then, your Grand Creator in the days of your youth,+ before the days of distress* come+ and the years arrive when you will say: “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark,+ and the clouds return after* the downpour; 3 in the day when the guards* of the house become shaky,* and the strong men stoop over, and the women quit grinding because they have become few, and the ladies looking out the windows find it dark;+ 4 when the doors to the street have been closed, when the sound of the grinding mill becomes low, when one gets up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song grow faint.+ 5 Also, one is afraid of heights, and there are terrors in the street. And the almond tree blossoms,+ and the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caper berry bursts, because man is walking to his lasting house+ and the mourners walk about in the street;+ 6 before the silver cord is removed, and the golden bowl is crushed, and the jar at the spring is broken, and the waterwheel for the cistern is crushed. 7 Then the dust returns to the earth,+ just as it was, and the spirit* returns to the true God who gave it.+

8 “The greatest futility!”* says the congregator.+ “Everything is futile.”+

9 Not only had the congregator become wise but he continually taught the people what he knew,+ and he pondered and made a thorough search in order to compile* many proverbs.+ 10 The congregator sought to find delightful words+ and to record accurate words of truth.

11 The words of the wise are like oxgoads,+ and their collected sayings are like firmly embedded nails; they have been given from one shepherd. 12 As for anything besides these, my son, be warned: To the making of many books there is no end, and much devotion to them is wearisome to the flesh.+

13 The conclusion of the matter, everything having been heard, is: Fear the true God+ and keep his commandments,+ for this is the whole obligation of man.+ 14 For the true God will judge every deed, including every hidden thing, as to whether it is good or bad.+

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