Ecclesiastes 12

传道书 第十二章

1   在你壮年的日子，当记念你的创造主。不要等到衰败的日子，就是你所说：“我毫无喜乐”的那些年日临到，

2   日头、光明、月亮、星宿变暗，雨后乌云再现的时候。

3   那时，看守房子的发抖，强壮的弯腰，推磨的稀少，都停了工，往窗外看的都昏暗了，

4   当街的门口关闭，推磨的声音微弱。雀鸟一叫，人就起来。唱歌的歌声（“歌声”原文作“女子”）都低微。

5   人怕高处，怕路上有惊吓。杏树开花，蚱蜢蹒跚而行，催情果失效。因为人归他永远的家，哭丧的在街上游行。

6   银链断掉，金碗破裂，瓶子在泉旁破碎，打水的轮子在井边破烂。

7   尘土要归回原来之地，灵要归回赐灵的上帝。

8   传道者说：“虚空的虚空，一切都是虚空。”

9   传道者不但有智慧，还将知识教训众人；他既揣摩，又查考，也编撰了许多箴言。

10         传道者搜寻可喜悦的话，正确地写下真理。

11        智慧人的言语像刺棒，他们所汇集的箴言像钉牢的钉子，都是一位牧者所赐的。

12        我儿，还有，你当受劝勉：著书多，没有穷尽；读书多，身体疲倦。

13        你们一切都听见了，总而言之，应当敬畏上帝，谨守他的诫命，因为这是每一个人的本分。

14        人所作的每一件事，连一切隐藏的事，无论是善是恶，上帝都必审问。



讨论问题：

1.      Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”—

2.     before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain;

3.     when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim;

4.     when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when people rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint;

5.     when people are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags itself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then people go to their eternal home and mourners go about the streets.

6.     Remember him—before the silver cord is severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel broken at the well,

7.     and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

8.     “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.“Everything is meaningless!”

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.

10.    The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.

11.    The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails — given by one shepherd.

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.

13.    Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.

14.    For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.


Discussion Questions:

1.   Explain verse 1.

2.   In verse 7, where does the spirit go, and why?

3.   Read verse 9 and 10, who is the Teacher, what did he do?

4.   Explain verse 13, what is mankind's duty, why?

5.    Do you know some of God's commandments?

6.    What is most meaningful to you in this chapter? Why?