Ecclesiastes 12

The wise man exhorteth young men to apply and accustome themselves unto pretty, before old age cometh, v.1. which he desireth by many comparisons, 2.&c. Hereupon followeth the conclusion of this Book, that all is vanity, 8. And he concludeth, that the sum of all learning is this, to fear God, and to keep to his commandments. 13.

1. And remember thy Creator [The Hebrew word is used in the plural number. Compare the annotate. Gen.1. on v.26. The meaning is, apply and inure thy self to the fear of God, and to keeping of his commandments] in the dayes od thy youthfulness, before the evil dayes [that is, the dayes of old age, which bring much pain and grief along with them; for old age is as a continual disease or sickness] come, and the years draw nigh, whereof thou shalt say, no pleasure in them.

2. Before the Sun, and the light, and the Moon, and the Stars be darkened, [Not that they are darkened indeed, but that they seem to be so unto those that are old, being half blind] and the clouds return after the rain. [that is, one misery cometh after another, as one tempest followeth after another. This verse, and some more that follow, contain a description of old age, after the manner of the Poets, and there is a continual allegory prosecured until seventh verse.]

3. In the day, when the keepers of the house [That is, the arms with the hands, which preserve the body (wherein the soul dwelleth, as in an house) serving to keep off evil, and entertain and imbrace good] shall tremble, and the strong men [that is, the legs or shanks, which bear the body, like two strong men] shall bow themselves, and the grinders [that is, the teeth, which (as it were) grind meat, chewing and biting it in pieces] cease, [to wit, from grinding, that is, from chewing. The meaning is, when the teeth shall not be so nimble to chew meat, as formerly] because they are grown less: [to wit, less number] and those that look out of the windows [that is, the eyes, that see or look from between the eye-lids] shall be darkened.

4. And the two doors [That is, the two lips through which the meat passeth, as between two doors. Compare, Job 41:5. Others understand by the doors the throat, or pipe through which the meat and drink do pass] toward the street [That is, which are seen outwardly in the body. There are also inward doors which are not seen, as the covering of the throat, and the covering of the bladder of the gall] shall be shut, [to wit, instead of opening them, when they should receive to take in hard meat. Some understand this thus: when the doors, that is, the lips, shall be shut, because old persons have an impediment in their speech, not being able to frame and utter words so well as young man do] when there is [cry, because of] a low sound of grinding, [to wit, when the teeth doe grind the meat in pieces, or grind it small. The meaning is, because the teeth can hardly chew, so that a man can hear nothing crack nothing or break between or under them, as is heard, when young chew and bite meat in pieces, having good teeth, which old persons seldom or never have] and he [to wit, the old man] riseth up [to wit, from his bed] at the voice of the bird, [that is, in the morning, when the birds begin to sing, for he cannot keep sleep to take rest] and all the singing men [Heb. The daughters of the song; that is, the singing women. Understand withal the singing man also, or the Musicians. Oth. All the daughters of the song, that is, all the parts or members of the body, which frame or form the voice] shall be bowed down. [or, shall bow; that is, shall perish, decrease, lose their strength; or shall be little esteemed, and counted of no value; inasmuch as the old man regardeth it not, as taking no more any delight in music. See the example hereof in Barfillai, 2 Sam.19.35.]

5. Also (when) they [To wit, old persons] shall be afraid of the high place [or, of high places; that is, of high exalted, or uneven places, which old men and women are loth to tread on, by reason of the weaknesses of their legs, fearing to stumble at them, or to fall down from off them, or because it is troublesome and cumbersome to them to climb up high stairs or hills] and (when) there shall be terrors in the way, [or amazements; to wit, great or many: Fearing, that they may hit their feet or toes against something] and the almond tree shall flourish, [when there shall be grey or hoary hairs there] and the grass-hopper shall be a burden to himself, [that is, the old man, who is grown as lean, crooked and withered as grass-hopper. Oth. And a grass-hopper, that is, a thing as light as a grass-hopper] is burden some to him, and the desire [to wit, after bodily pleasures and delights, also appetite to eating, drinking, etc.] shall perish: for man goeth to his everlasting house, [that is, to the grave; for there shall men abide a long while. As he had said, When a man is sensible of all those incommodities and distempers in his body, he may well then imagine, that he is nigh unto death, yea, that he hath one foot already in the grave] and the mourners [that is, those persons that see the dead put into the grave, and which doth bewail and lament them, or mourn over them; for which purpose certain persons in former time were wont to be hired. See the annotate. Jerem.9. on v.17.] shall go about in the street.

6. Before the silver cord be inchanted [That is, before the marrow or pith in the back-bone be loosed. This marrow is white like silver, and it is extended from the Bram all along the back-bone, like unto a cord or rope. Others understand here by the silver cord, the arteries. Oth. Removed. Oth. Chained or bound; that is, dried and stiffened] and the golden bowl be beaten in pieces, [by the golden bowl is meant, the same thin membrane or skin, wherein the brain lie, or which is of a gold colour. Others understand here by the golden bowl, the skull, wherein the brains lie shut up. Which likewise perisheth by death, and is as it were broken asunder] and the pitcher be broken at the fountain, [by the pitcher here is meant the chief great hollow vain, at or about the liver, called Vena cava] and the wheel beaten in pieces at the well; [by the wheel here is meant, the lungs, which by their continual motion do at one time thrust out the breath from them, and at another time draw it in again, resemble the wheel of a well, now drawing up the bucket towards it self, anon letting down again into the well.]

7. And the dust returneth to the earth as it was: [By dust here, is meant the body, which in the beginning was taken out of, and made of earth, Gen.3.19. see Job 7.v.5.] and the spirit [that is, the soul. See Numb.16.22. and 27.16.] return to God, [to wit, into heaven. It is to be understood, that Salomon here speaketh to the people of God. Some understand it of the souls both of believers and unbelievers, which are both sentenced by God, as supream Judge, immediately when man dieth, every one to their place, the souls of believers to heaven, of unbelievers to hell. Compare, Luke 16:22.] who gave it [see gen 2.7. Numb.16.22.]

8. Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, it is all vanity [See above, ch.1.2. Psa.62.9. and 144.4.]

9. And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge, [That is, good doctrines; he being converted, did like wise convert and teach others] and gave good heed, [oth. He pondered or weighed; to wit, in the scales of wisdom] and searched out [oth. Examined] he set in order many proverbs. [Salomon spake many proverbs, 1 kings 4.32. whereof onely the Book of the Proverbs, and the Book called Ecclesiastes, [in Hebrew, Cohelet) is come to our hands. And understand here, under the name of Proverbs, most excellent wise sentences or sayings, treating of the life and manners of men, and of the course of the world, see the annotate. 1 Kings 4. On v.32.]

10. The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, [or, matters, things] and that which is written, is right, [or rightly constituted, ordered aright; that is, such, against which no man hath any thing to say] (even) words of truth.

11. The words of the wise are goods, [Intimating, that as oxen are driven on, or made to plow, by the pricking of the goads or sharp pins, that so likewise men ought to be put on by sharp and earnest exhortations to the practice of virtue and piety, and to the loathing and abhorring of worldly vanity] and as nails knock deep in [Heb. Implanted] (by) the masters of the assembles, [or of the congregation; that is, of the Teachers of the Congregation (that) [or which, to wit, words of the wise; which, to wit, nails] are given by onely Shepherd. [Heb. By one shepherd; to wit, by God, who is the Shepherd and Keeper of his people, Psa.23 and who sending forth his Prophets and Ministers, enlighteneth and enableth them by his spirit, see John 10:11. 1 Pet.1.11. and ch.5.4. oth. By the first shepherd.]

12. And whatsoever is above them, my son be warned: [Above them, to wit, the words of the wise, and of the onely shepherd. Oth. Moreover, my son, be thy these admonished or exhorted. Heb. Properly, be enlightened; to wit, by the Proverbs that are contained in this Book, and especially also in the Book of my Proverbs, and others Books besides. Thou hast enough with these, observe these but well, and take heed of receiving and entertaining that which the Philosophers or wise men of the world have written concerning the chief good and happiness of man, for these were not led by the spirit of God, and therefore have step far aside from the right way] of making many Books [to wit, as the Philosophers, the wise men of the world, have done] (there) is no end, and much reading [Or, too much reading. Oth. Too much study] is a wearing of flesh. [that is man. The meaning is, maketh the head and the brains weary.]

13. Of all that hath been heard, [that is, all that, whereunto this Sermon of mine tended, concerning the chief good] the end [that is, the conclusion or summer] of the matter is, Fear God, [by whom alone thou canst obtain the supream good and salvation, but not by any earthly or transitory thing] and keep his Commandment; [compare, Deut.6.2. and 10.12. and Prov.3.7.] for this (becometh) all men. [oth. For this is the whole (work or duty) of man; that is, he ought to make it his whole businesses, or his whole employment: this is the most principal end of mans life: or, this is the whole of man; that is, absolute and perfect happiness: or herein consisteth his welfare and salvation. Oth. Of the whole man.]

14. For God shall bring every work [Or, every deed or action; that is, all mens deeds and works] into judgement, with all that is hidden, whether (it be) good, or whether (it be) evil. [For at the last day will God Judge the very secret thoughts of men, Romans 2:16. Hebr. 1.34. Compare, 1 Corinth.4.5. and 2 Cor.5.10.]