Ecclesiastes 12: Remember Your Creator

Ecclesiastes 12 begins, Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come. The Preacher pictures old age in poetry: the sun and stars grow dark, the keepers of the house tremble, and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. The words of the wise are like goads. The book ends: This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every work into judgment.

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Bible:

Read Ecclesiastes 12

World English Bible · 14 verses

¹ Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw near, when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them;”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look out of the windows are darkened,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ and the doors shall be shut in the street; when the sound of the grinding is low, and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ yes, they shall be afraid of heights, and terrors will be on the way; and the almond tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goes to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the spring, or the wheel broken at the cistern,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All is vanity!”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ The words of the wise are like goads; and like nails well fastened are words from the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Open Preschool on its own page

Ecclesiastes 12 · Preschool

Remember God When You Are Young

Name Date

Color the child praying to God the Creator!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.”

Ecclesiastes 12:13 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: God made you! Even while you are little, you can remember God, love Him, and talk to Him. Let's thank our Creator!

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Ecclesiastes 12 · Grade 4

The End of the Matter

Name Date

Read and Think

The last chapter begins with a call to young people: Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw near, when you will say, I have no pleasure in them. The best time to follow God is now. The Preacher then paints old age in a poem, where the sun and the stars grow dark and the strong men bow. In the end, the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

The Preacher says one last time, Vanity of vanities. Then the book describes him: because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs. He sought to find out acceptable words, words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, guiding people the right way.

The book ends with its answer: This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil. Life under the sun alone is vanity, but life lived for God has meaning.

Show What You Know

When is the best time to follow God?
What returns to the earth?
What did the Preacher set in order?
What is the end of the matter?
What will God bring into judgment?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

FeargoodtruthGod

The best time to follow is now.
He sought to find out acceptable words, words of .
God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is , or whether it is evil.

Think About It

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth. What is one way you can remember God every day?
Fear God and keep his commandments. How does this answer the Preacher's search for meaning?

Memory Verse

“This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.”

Ecclesiastes 12:13 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for being my Creator. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Where does the spirit return?
What could following God now look like for you?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Ecclesiastes 12 · Grade 5

Fear God and Keep His Commandments

Name Date

Read and Think

The final chapter opens with an urgent call: Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw near, when you will say, I have no pleasure in them. Verses 2-7 are a poem about aging, using pictures: the keepers of the house tremble, the grinders cease, the almond tree blossoms. It ends before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken, and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

Verse 8 repeats the book's opening refrain: Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher. All is vanity! Then the book describes the Preacher: because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads; and like nails well fastened are words from the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. Wisdom ultimately comes from God, the one Shepherd.

The book's conclusion: This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil. The search under the sun ends by looking above the sun to God. In the New Testament, Paul writes, Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Show What You Know

What do verses 2-7 describe?
Where does the spirit return?
What are words from the masters of assemblies like?
From whom are they given?
Where does the search under the sun end?

Crossword

Across

Remember also your ____ in the days of your youth
____ God and keep his commandments

Down

for this is the whole ____ of man
and set in order many ____
words of ____

Think About It

The search under the sun ends by looking above the sun to God. How has Ecclesiastes changed the way you think about what matters most?
God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing. How should this shape what you do when no one is watching?

Memory Verse

“This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.”

Ecclesiastes 12:13 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for being my Creator. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can you use your young years to remember your Creator?
How should we live when no one is watching?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Ecclesiastes 12: Remember Your Creator

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Worksheets

Remember God When You Are Young

Prayer

Take It Home

Remember

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

The End of the Matter

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Prayer

Take It Home

Remember Your Creator

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

The Whole Duty of Man

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

Remember Your Creator

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

The End of the Matter

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

Fear God and Keep His Commandments

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options