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Ecclesiastes 12:9-13
English Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 12:9-13
English Standard Version
Fear God and Keep His Commandments
9 Besides being wise, (A)the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging (B)many proverbs with great care. 10 (C)The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.
11 (D)The words of the wise are like goads, and like (E)nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are (F)given by (G)one Shepherd. 12 My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making (H)many books there is no end, and (I)much study is a weariness of the flesh.
13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. (J)Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.[a]
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- Ecclesiastes 12:13 Or the duty of all mankind
Ecclesiastes 12:9-13
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 12:9-13
New International Version
The Conclusion of the Matter
9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.(A) 10 The Teacher(B) searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.(C)
11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails(D)—given by one shepherd.[a] 12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.
Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.(E)
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 12:11 Or Shepherd
Ecclesiastes 12:9-13
King James Version
Ecclesiastes 12:9-13
King James Version
9 And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
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English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.