10 The preacher H6953 sought H1245 to find out H4672 acceptable H2656 words: H1697 and that which was written H3789 was upright, H3476 even words H1697 of truth. H571
The proverbs H4912 of Solomon H8010 the son H1121 of David, H1732 king H4428 of Israel; H3478 To know H3045 wisdom H2451 and instruction; H4148 to perceive H995 the words H561 of understanding; H998 To receive H3947 the instruction H4148 of wisdom, H7919 justice, H6664 and judgment, H4941 and equity; H4339 To give H5414 subtilty H6195 to the simple, H6612 to the young man H5288 knowledge H1847 and discretion. H4209 A wise H2450 man will hear, H8085 and will increase H3254 learning; H3948 and a man of understanding H995 shall attain H7069 unto wise counsels: H8458 To understand H995 a proverb, H4912 and the interpretation; H4426 the words H1697 of the wise, H2450 and their dark sayings. H2420
Hear; H8085 for I will speak H1696 of excellent things; H5057 and the opening H4669 of my lips H8193 shall be right things. H4339 For my mouth H2441 shall speak H1897 truth; H571 and wickedness H7562 is an abomination H8441 to my lips. H8193 All the words H561 of my mouth H6310 are in righteousness; H6664 there is nothing froward H6617 or perverse H6141 in them. They are all plain H5228 to him that understandeth, H995 and right H3477 to them that find H4672 knowledge. H1847 Receive H3947 my instruction, H4148 and not silver; H3701 and knowledge H1847 rather than choice H977 gold. H2742
The wise H2450 in heart H3820 shall be called H7121 prudent: H995 and the sweetness H4986 of the lips H8193 increaseth H3254 learning. H3948 Understanding H7922 is a wellspring H4726 of life H2416 unto him that hath H1167 it: but the instruction H4148 of fools H191 is folly. H200 The heart H3820 of the wise H2450 teacheth H7919 his mouth, H6310 and addeth H3254 learning H3948 to his lips. H8193 Pleasant H5278 words H561 are as an honeycomb, H6688 H1706 sweet H4966 to the soul, H5315 and health H4832 to the bones. H6106
Bow down H5186 thine ear, H241 and hear H8085 the words H1697 of the wise, H2450 and apply H7896 thine heart H3820 unto my knowledge. H1847 For it is a pleasant thing H5273 if thou keep H8104 them within H990 thee; they shall withal H3162 be fitted H3559 in thy lips. H8193 That thy trust H4009 may be in the LORD, H3068 I have made known H3045 to thee this day, H3117 even to thee. Have not I written H3789 to thee H8032 excellent things H7991 in counsels H4156 and knowledge, H1847 That I might make thee know H3045 the certainty H7189 of the words H561 of truth; H571 that thou mightest answer H7725 the words H561 of truth H571 to them that send H7971 unto thee?
A word H1697 fitly H212 H655 spoken H1696 is like apples H8598 of gold H2091 in pictures H4906 of silver. H3701 As an earring H5141 of gold, H2091 and an ornament H2481 of fine gold, H3800 so is a wise H2450 reprover H3198 upon an obedient H8085 ear. H241
Forasmuch G1895 as many G4183 have taken in hand G2021 to set forth in order G392 a declaration G1335 of G4012 those things G4229 which are most surely believed G4135 among G1722 us, G2254 Even G2531 as they delivered G3860 them unto us, G2254 which G3588 from G575 the beginning G746 were G1096 eyewitnesses, G845 and G2532 ministers G5257 of the word; G3056 It seemed G1380 good to me also, G2504 having had perfect G199 understanding G3877 of all things G3956 from the very first, G509 to write G1125 unto thee G4671 in order, G2517 most excellent G2903 Theophilus, G2321 That G2443 thou mightest know G1921 the certainty G803 of G4012 those things, G3056 wherein G3739 thou hast been instructed. G2727
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Ecclesiastes 12
Commentary on Ecclesiastes 12 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 12
The wise and penitent preacher is here closing his sermon; and he closes it, not only like a good orator, but like a good preacher, with that which was likely to make the best impressions and which he wished might be powerful and lasting upon his hearers. Here is,
Ecc 12:1-7
Here is,
Ecc 12:8-12
Solomon is here drawing towards a close, and is loth to part till he has gained his point, and prevailed with his hearers, with his readers, to seek for that satisfaction in God only and in their duty to him which they can never find in the creature.
Ecc 12:13-14
The great enquiry which Solomon prosecutes in this book is, What is that good which the sons of men should do? ch. 2:3. What is the true way to true happiness, the certain means to attain our great end? He had in vain sought it among those things which most men are eager in pursuit of, but here, at length, he has found it, by the help of that discovery which God anciently made to man (Job 28:28), that serious godliness is the only way to true happiness: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter, the return entered upon the writ of enquiry, the result of this diligent search; you shall have all I have been driving at in two words. He does not say, Do you hear it, but Let us hear it; for preachers must themselves be hearers of that word which they preach to others, must hear it as from God; those are teachers by the halves who teach others and not themselves, Rom. 2:21. Every word of God is pure and precious, but some words are worthy of more special remark, as this; the Masorites begin it with a capital letter, as that Deu. 6:4. Solomon himself puts a nota bene before it, demanding attention in these words, Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Observe here,