Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd. New Living Translation The words of the wise are like cattle prods—painful but helpful. Their collected sayings are like a nail-studded stick with which a shepherd drives the sheep. English Standard Version The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. Berean Standard Bible The words of the wise are like goads, and the anthologies of the masters are like firmly embedded nails driven by a single Shepherd. King James Bible The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. New King James Version The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. New American Standard Bible The words of the wise are like goads, and masters of these collections are like driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. NASB 1995 The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. NASB 1977 The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. Legacy Standard Bible The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. Amplified Bible The words of the wise are like [prodding] goads, and these collected sayings are [firmly fixed in the mind] like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. Christian Standard Bible The sayings of the wise are like cattle prods, and those from masters of collections are like firmly embedded nails. The sayings are given by one Shepherd. Holman Christian Standard Bible The sayings of the wise are like goads, and those from masters of collections are like firmly embedded nails. The sayings are given by one Shepherd. American Standard Version The words of the wise are as goads; and as nails well fastened are the words of the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. Aramaic Bible in Plain English The words of the wise are like goads and like nails with which Masters nail door posts; they are given from one Shepherd Brenton Septuagint Translation The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails firmly fastened, which have been given from one shepherd by agreement. Contemporary English Version Words of wisdom are like the stick a farmer uses to make animals move. These sayings come from a shepherd, and they are like nails that fasten things together. Douay-Rheims Bible The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails deeply fastened in, which by the counsel of masters are given from one shepherd. English Revised Version The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails well fastened are the words of the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. GOD'S WORD® Translation Words from wise people are like spurs. Their collected sayings are like nails that have been driven in firmly. They come from one shepherd. Good News Translation The sayings of the wise are like the sharp sticks that shepherds use to guide sheep, and collected proverbs are as lasting as firmly driven nails. They have been given by God, the one Shepherd of us all. International Standard Version Sayings from the wise are like cattle prods and well fastened nails; this masterful collection was given by one shepherd. JPS Tanakh 1917 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails well fastened are those that are composed in collections; they are given from one shepherd. Literal Standard Version Words of the wise [are] as the goads, and as nails planted [by] the masters of collections, they have been given by one Shepherd. Majority Standard Bible The words of the wise are like goads, and the anthologies of the masters are like firmly embedded nails driven by a single Shepherd. New American Bible The sayings of the wise are like goads; like fixed spikes are the collected sayings given by one shepherd. NET Bible The words of the sages are like prods, and the collected sayings are like firmly fixed nails; they are given by one shepherd. New Revised Standard Version The sayings of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings that are given by one shepherd. New Heart English Bible The words of the wise are like goads; and like nails well fastened are words from the masters of collections, which are given from one shepherd. Webster's Bible Translation The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. World English Bible 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. Young's Literal Translation Words of the wise are as goads, and as fences planted by the masters of collections, they have been given by one shepherd. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Fear of God is Utmost…10The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth. 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.… Cross References Acts 2:37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Ezra 9:8 But now, for a brief moment, grace has come from the LORD our God to preserve for us a remnant and to give us a stake in His holy place. Even in our bondage, our God has given us new life and light to our eyes. Proverbs 1:6 by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. Proverbs 22:17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise--apply your mind to my knowledge-- Ecclesiastes 7:5 It is better to heed a wise man's rebuke than to listen to the song of fools. Ecclesiastes 10:12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him. Isaiah 22:23 I will drive him like a peg into a firm place, and he will be a throne of glory for the house of his father. Treasury of Scripture The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. as goads Jeremiah 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? Matthew 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? masters John 3:10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? given Genesis 49:24 But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) Psalm 23:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 80:1 To the chief Musician upon ShoshannimEduth, A Psalm of Asaph. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth. Jump to Previous Assemblies Collected Collections Composed Fastened Fences Firmly Fixed Goads Grouped Guide Hammer Masters Nails Planted Pointed Sayings Shepherd Together Wise WordsJump to Next Assemblies Collected Collections Composed Fastened Fences Firmly Fixed Goads Grouped Guide Hammer Masters Nails Planted Pointed Sayings Shepherd Together Wise WordsEcclesiastes 12 1. the Creator is to be remembered in due time8. The preacher's care to edify 13. the fear of God is the chief antidote for vanity (11) Words of the wise.--In this and the next verse the weighty words of sages, such as was Koheleth, are contrasted with the volubility of modern bookmakers. Though the general purpose of the verses is plain, the words used are enigmatical, and one cannot feel great confidence in assigning their precise meaning. The translation of our version fairly represents the original, if it is observed that the words "by" and "which," which determine the meaning, are in italics. With regard to the "nail," compare Ezra 9:8; Isaiah 22:23. The word "masters" we have had twice in this book already in the sense of possessor, "master of the tongue" (Ecclesiastes 10:11), "master of wings" (Ecclesiastes 10:20). "Assemblies" is a word not coming from the same root as that from which Koheleth is derived. It might mean collections of sayings as well as of people. It is difficult to affix any meaning to the last clause, except that the sages, of whom the verse speaks, have been given for the instruction of the people by Israel's great Shepherd (Psalm 80:1).Verse 11. - The words of the wise are as goads. The connection of this verse with the preceding is maintained by the fact that the "acceptable words," etc., are words of the wise, emanate from the same persons. Herewith he proceeds to characterize them, with especial reference to his own work. The goad was a rod with an iron spike, or sharpened at the end, used in driving oxen (see Judges 3:31; 1 Samuel 13:21; Ecclus. 38:25; Acts 9:5). Words of wisdom are called goads because they rouse to exertion, promote reflection and action, restrain from error, impel to right; if they hurt and sting, the pain which they inflict is healthful, for good and not for evil. And as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies. The proposition "by" is an interpolation, and the sentence should run: Ant/ like nails fastened [are] the, etc. - masmeroth, "nails," as in Isaiah 41:7. There is much difficulty in explaining the next words, בַּעַלִי אַסֻפות (baale asuppoth). We have had similar expressions applied to possessors in Ecclesiastes 10:11, "lord of the tongue," and "lord of wings" (Ecclesiastes 10:20); and analogy might lead us to apply the phrase here to-persons, and not things; but in Isaiah 41:15 we find a threshing-instrument termed "lord of teeth;" and in 2 Samuel 5:20 a town is called Baal-Perazim, "Lord of breaches;" so we must be guided by other considerations in our exposition. The Septuagint, taking the whole sentence together, and regarding baals as a preposition, renders, "As nails firmly planted, (οι{ παρᾶ τῶν συνθεμάτων ἐδόθησαν ἐκ ποιμένος ἑνός) which from the collections were given from one shepherd." Schleus-her takes οι{ παρὰ τῶν συνθεμάτων to mean, "Ii quibus munus datum erat collectionem faciendi," i.e. the author, of collections. The Vulgate has, Verba... quae per magistrorum consilium data sunt a pastore uno. The "masters of assemblies" can only be the chiefs of some learned conclaves, like the great synagogue supposed to exist in the time of Ezra and later. The clause would then assert that these pundits are like fastened nails, which seems rather unmeaning. One might say that their uttered sentiments became fixed in the mind as nails firmly driven in, but one could not properly say this of the men themselves. A late editor, Gietmann, suggests that "lords of collection" may mean "brave men, heroes, gathered in line of battle," serried ranks, just as in Proverbs 22:20 the term shalishim, chariot-fighters, chieftains, is applied to choice proverbs. Thus he would say that the words of the wise are as goads because they stimulate the intellect, as nails because they readily find entrance, and like men in battle array when they are reduced to writing and marshaled in a book. This is certainly ingenious, but somewhat too artificial to be regarded as the genuine intention of the writer. It seems best to take the word translated "assemblies" as denoting collections, not of people, but of proverbs; and the compound phrase would thus mean proverbs of an excellent character, the best of their sort gathered together in writing. Such words are well compared to nails; they are no longer floating loosely about, they are fixed in the memory, they secure other knowledge, and, though they are separate utterances, they have a certain unity and purpose. Nails are often used proverbially as emblems of what is fixed and unalterable. Thus AEschyl., 'Suppl.,' 944 - Τῶν δ ἐφήλωται τορῶς`ΝΛ´Γόμφος διαμπὰξ ὡς μένειν ἀραρότως "Through them a nail is firmly fixed, that they Hebrew The wordsדִּבְרֵ֤י (diḇ·rê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause of the wise חֲכָמִים֙ (ḥă·ḵā·mîm) Adjective - masculine plural Strong's 2450: Wise are like goads, כַּדָּ֣רְבֹנ֔וֹת (kad·dā·rə·ḇō·nō·wṯ) Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 1861: A goad and the anthologies אֲסֻפּ֑וֹת (’ă·sup·pō·wṯ) Noun - feminine plural Strong's 627: A collection of, men of the masters בַּעֲלֵ֣י (ba·‘ă·lê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1167: A master, a husband, owner are like firmly embedded נְטוּעִ֖ים (nə·ṭū·‘îm) Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural Strong's 5193: To strike in, fix, to plant nails וּֽכְמַשְׂמְר֥וֹת (ū·ḵə·maś·mə·rō·wṯ) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 4930: A peg driven נִתְּנ֖וּ (nit·tə·nū) Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 5414: To give, put, set by a single אֶחָֽד׃ (’e·ḥāḏ) Number - masculine singular Strong's 259: United, one, first Shepherd. מֵרֹעֶ֥ה (mê·rō·‘eh) Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 7462: To tend a, flock, pasture it, in, to graze, to rule, to associate with Links Ecclesiastes 12:11 NIVEcclesiastes 12:11 NLT Ecclesiastes 12:11 ESV Ecclesiastes 12:11 NASB Ecclesiastes 12:11 KJV Ecclesiastes 12:11 BibleApps.com Ecclesiastes 12:11 Biblia Paralela Ecclesiastes 12:11 Chinese Bible Ecclesiastes 12:11 French Bible Ecclesiastes 12:11 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 12:11 The words of the wise are like (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.) |
    |