Ecclesiastes 12:12
New International Version
Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.

New Living Translation
But, my child, let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out.

English Standard Version
My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

Berean Standard Bible
And by these, my son, be further warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh.

New American Standard Bible
But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive study is wearying to the body.

NASB 1995
But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.

NASB 1977
But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.

Legacy Standard Bible
But in addition to this, my son, be warned: the making of many books is endless, and much devotion to books is wearying to the flesh.

Amplified Bible
But beyond this my son, [about going further than the words given by one Shepherd], be warned: the writing of many books is endless [so do not believe everything you read], and excessive study and devotion to books is wearying to the body.

Christian Standard Bible
But beyond these, my son, be warned: there is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But beyond these, my son, be warned: there is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.

American Standard Version
And furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And especially pay attention to them, my son. To the writing many scrolls there is no end, and much speaking is weariness of the flesh

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And moreover, my son, guard thyself by means of them: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

Contemporary English Version
My child, I warn you to stay away from any teachings except these. There is no end to books, and too much study will wear you out.

Douay-Rheims Bible
More than these, my son, require not. Of making many books there is no end: and much study is an affliction of the flesh.

English Revised Version
And furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Be warned, my children, against anything more than these. People never stop writing books. Too much studying will wear out your body.

Good News Translation
My child, there is something else to watch out for. There is no end to the writing of books, and too much study will wear you out.

International Standard Version
So learn from them, my son. There is no end to the crafting of many books, and too much study wearies the body.

JPS Tanakh 1917
And furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

Literal Standard Version
And further, from these, my son, be warned; the making of many scrolls has no end, and much study [is] a weariness of the flesh.

Majority Standard Bible
And by these, my son, be further warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.

New American Bible
As to more than these, my son, beware. Of the making of many books there is no end, and in much study there is weariness for the flesh.

NET Bible
Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. There is no end to the making of many books, and much study is exhausting to the body.

New Revised Standard Version
Of anything beyond these, my child, beware. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

New Heart English Bible
Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

Young's Literal Translation
And further, from these, my son, be warned; the making of many books hath no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Fear of God is Utmost
11The words of the wise are like goads, and the anthologies of the masters are like firmly embedded nails driven by a single Shepherd. 12And by these, my son, be further warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body. 13When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.…

Cross References
1 Kings 4:32
Solomon composed three thousand proverbs, and his songs numbered a thousand and five.

Ecclesiastes 1:18
For with much wisdom comes much sorrow, and as knowledge grows, grief increases.


Treasury of Scripture

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.

by these

Luke 16:29-31
Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them…

John 5:39
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

John 20:31
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

study

Ecclesiastes 1:18
For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

Jump to Previous
Addition Admonished Beware Body Books Devotion End Endless Excessive Flesh Further Furthermore Learning Making Note Study Warned Wearies Weariness Wearying Writing
Jump to Next
Addition Admonished Beware Body Books Devotion End Endless Excessive Flesh Further Furthermore Learning Making Note Study Warned Wearies Weariness Wearying Writing
Ecclesiastes 12
1. the Creator is to be remembered in due time
8. The preacher's care to edify
13. the fear of God is the chief antidote for vanity














(12) Study.--The word occurs here only in the Old Testament; but is not a Talmudic word.

Verses 12-14. - The author warns against profitless study, and gives the final conclusion to which the whole discussion leads. Verse 12. - And further, by these, my son, be admonished; rather, and what is more than these, be warned. Besides all that has been said, take this additional and important caution, viz. what follows. The clause, however, has been differently interpreted, as if it said, "Do not attempt to go beyond the words of the sages mentioned above; or, "Be content with my counsels; they will suffice for your instruction." This seems to be the meaning of the Authorized Version. The personal address, "my son," so usual in the Book of Proverbs, is used by Koheleth in this place alone. It does not necessarily imply relationship (as if the pseudo-Solomon was appealing to Rehoboam), but rather the condition of pupil and learner, sitting at the feet of his teacher and friend. Of malting many books there is no end. This could not be said in the time of the historical Solomon, even if we reckon his own voluminous works (1 Kings 4:32, 33); for we know of no other writers of that date, and it is tolerably certain that none existed in Palestine. But we need not suppose that Koheleth is referring to extraneous heathen productions, of which, in our view, there is no evidence that he possessed any special knowledge. Doubtless many thinkers in his time had treated of the problems discussed in his volume in a far different manner from that herein employed, and it seemed good to utter a warning against the unprofitable reading of such productions. Juvenal speaks of the insatiable passion for writing in his day ('Sat.,' 7:51) -

"Tenet insanabile multos
Scribendi cacoethes et aegro in corde senestit;"

which Dryden renders -

"The charms of poetry our souls bewitch;
The curse of writing is an endless itch."
As in taking food it is not the quantity which a man eats, but what he digests and assimilates, that nourishes him, so in reading, the rule, Non multa, sed multum, must be observed; the gorging the literary appetite on food wholesome or not impedes the healthy mental process, and produces no intellectual growth or strength. The obvious lesson drawn by spiritual writers is that Christians should make God's Word their chief study, "turning away from the profane babblings and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called" (1 Timothy 6:20). For as St. Augustine says ('De Doctr. Christ.'), "Whereas in Holy Scripture you will find everything which has been profitably said elsewhere, to a far greater extent you will therein find what has been nowhere else enunciated, but which has been taught solely by the marvelous sublimity and the equally marvelous humility of the Word of God." Much study is a weariness of the flesh. The two clauses in the latter part of the verse are co-ordinate. Thus the Septuagint, Τοῦ ποιῆσαι βιβλία πολλὰ οὐκ ἔστι περασμὸς καὶ μελέτη πολλὴ κόπωσις ("weariness") σαρκός. The word for "study" (lahag) is not found elsewhere in the Old Testament, nor in the Talmud, but the above meaning is sustained by its connection with an Arabic word signifying "to be eager for." The Vulgate (like the Septuagint) renders it meditatio. You may weary your brain, exhaust your strength, by protracted study or meditation on many books, but you will not necessarily thereby gain any insight into the problems of the universe or guidance for daily life. Marcus Aurelius dissuades from much reading: "Would you examine your whole composition?" he says; "pray, then let your library alone; what need you puzzle your thoughts and over-grasp yourself?" Again, "As for books, never be over-eager about them; such a fondness for reading will be apt to perplex your mind, and make you die unpleased" ('Medit.,' 2:2, 3, Collier). So Ben-Sira affirms, "The finding out of parables is a wearisome Labor of the mind" (Ecclus. 13:26).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But beyond
וְיֹתֵ֥ר (wə·yō·ṯêr)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3148: Superiority, advantage, excess

these,
מֵהֵ֖מָּה (mê·hêm·māh)
Preposition-m | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

my son,
בְּנִ֣י (bə·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121: A son

be warned:
הִזָּהֵ֑ר (hiz·zā·hêr)
Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 2094: To gleam, to enlighten

There is no
אֵ֣ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

end
קֵ֔ץ (qêṣ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7093: An extremity, after

to the making
עֲשׂ֨וֹת (‘ă·śō·wṯ)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6213: To do, make

of many
הַרְבֵּה֙ (har·bêh)
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great

books,
סְפָרִ֤ים (sə·p̄ā·rîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5612: A missive, document, writing, book

and much
הַרְבֵּ֖ה (har·bêh)
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great

study
וְלַ֥הַג (wə·la·haḡ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3854: Intense mental application

wearies
יְגִעַ֥ת (yə·ḡi·‘aṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3024: Wearying

the body.
בָּשָֽׂר׃ (bā·śār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1320: Flesh, body, person, the pudenda of a, man


Links
Ecclesiastes 12:12 NIV
Ecclesiastes 12:12 NLT
Ecclesiastes 12:12 ESV
Ecclesiastes 12:12 NASB
Ecclesiastes 12:12 KJV

Ecclesiastes 12:12 BibleApps.com
Ecclesiastes 12:12 Biblia Paralela
Ecclesiastes 12:12 Chinese Bible
Ecclesiastes 12:12 French Bible
Ecclesiastes 12:12 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 12:12 Furthermore my son be admonished: of making (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.)
Ecclesiastes 12:11
Top of Page
Top of Page