Before the1 difficult days come,
And the years draw near bwhen you say,
“I have no pleasure in them”:
The moon and the stars,
Are not darkened,
And the clouds do not return after the rain;
And the strong men bow down;
When the grinders cease because they are few,
And those that look through the windows grow dim;
And the sound of grinding is low;
When one rises up at the sound of a bird,
And all athe daughters of music are brought low.
And of terrors in the way;
When the almond tree blossoms,
The grasshopper is a burden,
And desire fails.
For man goes to ahis eternal home,
And bthe mourners go about the streets.
Or the golden bowl is broken,
Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain,
Or the wheel broken at the well.
bAnd the spirit will return to God cwho gave it.
“All is vanity.”
The Whole Duty of Man
| << Ecclesiastes 12:1 | Ecclesiastes 12:3 >> |
What Does Ecclesiastes 12:2 Mean?
Ecclesiastes 12:2
There is a progression from sun to moon to stars in terms of the diminishing of light to a person observing from the earth. What does light represent in this context? Joy—the goodness of life. Solomon is asserting that, as a person ages, his capacity to enjoy the good things diminishes. He is underlining the inevitability of the problems of old age.
Even though Solomon directly says, "Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth," his meaning is more emphatic: "Get started now! Do not wait! Do not delay! Live life the right way when you are young because, as you get older, your capacity to enjoy diminishes."
John W. Ritenbaugh
Ecclesiastes and the Feast of Tabernacles (Part 2)
| << Ecclesiastes 12:1 | Ecclesiastes 12:3 >> |
Join 137,098+ readers
A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning
Consistent Bible study is hard to start.
The Berean gives you the starting point: one scripture and a focused commentary in your inbox each morning — read it in minutes, or go as deep as you like.
Free, daily, and spam-free. We never share your address. Unsubscribe anytime.