## Ecclesiastes Chapter 12

###### Ecclesiastes 12:1
[Ecclesiastes 12:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/12:1)

וּזְכֹר֙ אֶת־בּ֣וֹרְאֶ֔יךָ בִּימֵ֖י בְּחוּרֹתֶ֑יךָ עַ֣ד אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹא־יָבֹ֙אוּ֙ יְמֵ֣י הָֽרָעָ֔ה וְהִגִּ֣יעוּ שָׁנִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֹּאמַ֔ר אֵֽין־לִ֥י בָהֶ֖ם חֵֽפֶץ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
So remember your Creator in the days of your youth; before the evil days come, and the years draw near of which you will say: “I have no desire in them.”

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw near, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And remember your Creator [(before whom you are destined to render judgment and accounting)] in the days of your youth, before the onset of the days of evil [(those of old age and weakness)] and the arrival of the years of which you say: I have no desire in them.


###### Ecclesiastes 12:2
[Ecclesiastes 12:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/12:2)

עַ֠ד אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־תֶחְשַׁ֤ךְ הַשֶּׁ֙מֶשׁ֙ וְהָא֔וֹר וְהַיָּרֵ֖חַ וְהַכּוֹכָבִ֑ים וְשָׁ֥בוּ הֶעָבִ֖ים אַחַ֥ר הַגָּֽשֶׁם׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Before the darkening of the sun, the light, the moon and the stars; and the clouds return after the rain.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
before the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain:

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
["Remember etc.",] before the sun [(the forehead, which glows in youth)] darkens [(with creases, as old age approaches)], and the light [(of the countenance, the nose, darkens)], and the moon the [(soul)], and the stars [(the cheeks)], and the [(light-obscuring)] clouds return after the rain [(of tears over the troubles that have passed over you)].


###### Ecclesiastes 12:3
[Ecclesiastes 12:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/12:3)

בַּיּ֗וֹם שֶׁיָּזֻ֙עוּ֙ שֹׁמְרֵ֣י הַבַּ֔יִת וְהִֽתְעַוְּת֖וּ אַנְשֵׁ֣י הֶחָ֑יִל וּבָטְל֤וּ הַטֹּֽחֲנוֹת֙ כִּ֣י מִעֵ֔טוּ וְחָשְׁכ֥וּ הָרֹא֖וֹת בָּאֲרֻבּֽוֹת׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
In the day when trembling prevails over the preservers of the house and the strong men will be bent and the grinders cease because they are few, and the starers in the windows are dimmed.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows are dimmed,

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
On the day that the keepers of the house [(the ribs)] tremble, and the men of war [(the legs)] are cramped, and the grinders [(the teeth)] cease, from fewness, and the seers in the windows [(the eyes)] darken.


###### Ecclesiastes 12:4
[Ecclesiastes 12:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/12:4)

וְסֻגְּר֤וּ דְלָתַ֙יִם֙ בַּשּׁ֔וּק בִּשְׁפַ֖ל ק֣וֹל הַֽטַּחֲנָ֑ה וְיָקוּם֙ לְק֣וֹל הַצִּפּ֔וֹר וְיִשַּׁ֖חוּ כׇּל־בְּנ֥וֹת הַשִּֽׁיר׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
And the doors to the street will be shut, when the sound of the grinding is low; and when one will awaken at the sound of a bird, and muffled will be the daughters [sounds] of song.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
and the doors are shut in the street, when the sound of the grinding is low, and one starts up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music are brought low;

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And the doors in the marketplace [(the organs of elimination)] be closed with the muffling of the sound of the mill [(the stomach)], and he [(the old man] arise [from sleep] at the sound of a bird, and all songsters be base [in his eyes].


###### Ecclesiastes 12:5
[Ecclesiastes 12:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/12:5)

גַּ֣ם מִגָּבֹ֤הַּ יִרָ֙אוּ֙ וְחַתְחַתִּ֣ים בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ וְיָנֵ֤אץ הַשָּׁקֵד֙ וְיִסְתַּבֵּ֣ל הֶֽחָגָ֔ב וְתָפֵ֖ר הָֽאֲבִיּוֹנָ֑ה כִּֽי־הֹלֵ֤ךְ הָאָדָם֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית עוֹלָמ֔וֹ וְסָבְב֥וּ בַשּׁ֖וּק הַסּוֹפְדִֽים׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Also, when they will fear heights, and terrors on the road, and the almond tree will blossom and the grasshopper will be a burden, and the desire will fail; for, [in this manner,] man goes to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
when they are also afraid of that which is high, and terrors are in the way, and the almond tree blossoms, and the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caperberry fails; because the man goes to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets;

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Also, of ascents [and descents in the road] will they be frightened, and [they will suffer many] fears on the road. And his [(the old man's)] coccyx will jut, and his genitals will be a burden to him, and his desire [for women] will cease. For man goes to his eternal home, and mourners go round the marketplace.


###### Ecclesiastes 12:6
[Ecclesiastes 12:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/12:6)

עַ֣ד אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־[יֵרָתֵק֙] (ירחק) חֶ֣בֶל הַכֶּ֔סֶף וְתָר֖וּץ גֻּלַּ֣ת הַזָּהָ֑ב וְתִשָּׁ֤בֶר כַּד֙ עַל־הַמַּבּ֔וּעַ וְנָרֹ֥ץ הַגַּלְגַּ֖ל אֶל־הַבּֽוֹר׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Before the snapping of the silver cord, and the golden bowl is shattered; and the pitcher is broken at the fountain, and the wheel is shattered into the pit.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is shattered, or the pitcher is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern;

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Before [viz. 12:2] the silver cord [(the spinal column)] crumbles and the golden bowl [(the penis)] is shattered, and the pitcher [(the stomach)] is broken [i.e., split] at the fountain, and the eye-ball is crushed into its cavity.


###### Ecclesiastes 12:7
[Ecclesiastes 12:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/12:7)

וְיָשֹׁ֧ב הֶעָפָ֛ר עַל־הָאָ֖רֶץ כְּשֶׁהָיָ֑ה וְהָר֣וּחַ תָּשׁ֔וּב אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר נְתָנָֽהּ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
And the dust returns to the earth as it was; and the spirit returns to God Who gave it.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
and the dust returns to the earth as it was: and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And the dust returns to the earth, as it was, and the spirit returns to G-d, who gave it.


###### Ecclesiastes 12:8
[Ecclesiastes 12:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/12:8)

הֲבֵ֧ל הֲבָלִ֛ים אָמַ֥ר הַקּוֹהֶ֖לֶת הַכֹּ֥ל הָֽבֶל׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Vanity of vanities says Koheles, all is vanity.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Vanity of vanities, says Qohelet; all is vanity.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Vanity of vanities, said the Koheleth, all is vanity [viz. 1:1-2].


###### Ecclesiastes 12:9
[Ecclesiastes 12:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/12:9)

וְיֹתֵ֕ר שֶׁהָיָ֥ה קֹהֶ֖לֶת חָכָ֑ם ע֗וֹד לִמַּד־דַּ֙עַת֙ אֶת־הָעָ֔ם וְאִזֵּ֣ן וְחִקֵּ֔ר תִּקֵּ֖ן מְשָׁלִ֥ים הַרְבֵּֽה׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
And besides that Koheles was wise, he also taught the people knowledge; he weighed and probed—and adapted many proverbs.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
And besides being wise, Qohelet also taught the people knowledge; for he weighed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And more [than is written in this book,] Koheleth was wise, and he taught knowledge to the people, ve'izen [lit., "and he made ears." (In the beginning, the Torah was like a basket without ears (i.e., handles), and he came and affixed "ears" to it, e.g.: eruvin (boundary limitations) as a fence for the keeping of the Sabbath; washing of the hands as a fence for purity; banning of secondary relations as a fence against illicit relations.)]


###### Ecclesiastes 12:10
[Ecclesiastes 12:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/12:10)

בִּקֵּ֣שׁ קֹהֶ֔לֶת לִמְצֹ֖א דִּבְרֵי־חֵ֑פֶץ וְכָת֥וּב יֹ֖שֶׁר דִּבְרֵ֥י אֱמֶֽת׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Koheles sought to find words of delight; and to write in a proper way words of truth.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Qohelet sought to find out acceptable words: and words of truth written in proper form.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Koheleth sought to find [and found] things of desire [("laws to Moses on Sinai") and righteous writ [(the Written Torah and the Prophets)].


###### Ecclesiastes 12:11
[Ecclesiastes 12:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/12:11)

דִּבְרֵ֤י חֲכָמִים֙ כַּדָּ֣רְבֹנ֔וֹת וּֽכְמַשְׂמְר֥וֹת נְטוּעִ֖ים בַּעֲלֵ֣י אֲסֻפּ֑וֹת נִתְּנ֖וּ מֵרֹעֶ֥ה אֶחָֽד׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
The words of the wise are like goads, like well fastened nails [are the words] of the masters of [learned] assemblies; all were given from one Shepherd.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The words of the wise are like spurs, and like nails well driven in are the sayings of the masters of collections; they are given by one shepherd.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The words of the sages [(who made fences for the Torah by enacting decrees to distance the Jews from actual transgressions)] are like goads [(Just as a goad guides the bullock in its furrows, so their words guide a man in the ways of life)]; and like nails, planted [(Just as nails are fixed, so the sages' words are fixed; and just as plants multiply, so their words "multiply" [i.e., they generate new learning.])] [nails] with "great heads," given by one shepherd [(Moses, by the mouth of G-d)].


###### Ecclesiastes 12:12
[Ecclesiastes 12:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/12:12)

וְיֹתֵ֥ר מֵהֵ֖מָּה בְּנִ֣י הִזָּהֵ֑ר עֲשׂ֨וֹת סְפָרִ֤ים הַרְבֵּה֙ אֵ֣ין קֵ֔ץ וְלַ֥הַג הַרְבֵּ֖ה יְגִעַ֥ת בָּשָֽׂר׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
And, furthermore, my son, be admonished; of making many books, there is no end, and much study wears away the flesh.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
And furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And more than they [("righteous writ” 12:10)], my son, take heed [to heed the words of the sages. And if you ask: If there is need of them, why were they not written down?] In the making of books there is no end [and if we began, we could never finish.]; and overmuch thought [i.e., attempts to digest more than we can understand] is a weariness of the flesh.


###### Ecclesiastes 12:13
[Ecclesiastes 12:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/12:13)

ס֥וֹף דָּבָ֖ר הַכֹּ֣ל נִשְׁמָ֑ע אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִ֤ים יְרָא֙ וְאֶת־מִצְוֺתָ֣יו שְׁמ֔וֹר כִּי־זֶ֖ה כׇּל־הָאָדָֽם׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
In conclusion, after all has been heard; fear God, and preserve His commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The end of the matter, when all is said and done: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for that is the whole duty of man.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
[(And if you ask: If I cannot complete the work, why should I begin it?)] the end of the matter, all having been heard — fear G-d [i.e., do whatever you can, with your heart to Heaven)], and keep His mitzvoth; for this is [the purpose of the creation of] all men.


###### Ecclesiastes 12:14
[Ecclesiastes 12:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/12:14)

כִּ֚י אֶת־כׇּל־מַֽעֲשֶׂ֔ה הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים יָבִ֥א בְמִשְׁפָּ֖ט עַ֣ל כׇּל־נֶעְלָ֑ם אִם־ט֖וֹב וְאִם־רָֽע׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
For every deed God will bring into judgement, and every hidden thing; whether good or bad. (In conclusion, after all has been heard; fear God, and preserve His commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man.)

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
For every deed G-d will bring into judgment, [even] for good or bad [(in the doing of a mitzvah, e.g., giving charity to a pauper in public)].