Immerse: Poets Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 277
12:8-14
E cclesiastes
265
the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who
gave it.
“Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless.”
Keep this in mind: The Teacher was considered wise, and he taught the
people everything he knew. He listened carefully to many proverbs, studying and classifying them. The Teacher sought to find just the right words
to express truths clearly.
The words of the wise are like cattle prods—painful but helpful. Their
collected sayings are like a nail-studded stick with which a shepherd drives
the sheep.
But, my child, let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out.
That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and
obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for
everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.
