Ecclesiastes Chapter 12 verse 13 Holy Bible

ASV Ecclesiastes 12:13

`This is' the end of the matter; all hath been heard: fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole `duty' of man.
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BBE Ecclesiastes 12:13

This is the last word. All has been said. Have fear of God and keep his laws; because this is right for every man.
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DARBY Ecclesiastes 12:13

Let us hear the end of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole of man.
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KJV Ecclesiastes 12:13

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
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WBT Ecclesiastes 12:13


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WEB Ecclesiastes 12:13

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.
read chapter 12 in WEB

YLT Ecclesiastes 12:13

The end of the whole matter let us hear: -- `Fear God, and keep His commands, for this `is' the whole of man.
read chapter 12 in YLT

Pulpit Commentary

Pulpit CommentaryVerse 13. - The teaching of the whole book is now gathered up in two weighty sentences. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. The Revised Version gives, This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard. The Septuagint has, Τέλος λόγου τὸ πᾶν ἄκουε, "The end of the matter, the sum, hear thou;" Vulgate, Finem loquendi pariter omnes audiamus. Another rendering is suggested, "The conclusion of the matter is this, that [God] taketh knowledge of all things;" literally, "everything is heard." Perhaps the passage is best translated, The end of the matter, when all is heard, is this. The first word of this verse, soph, "end," is printed in the Hebrew text in large characters, in order to draw attention to the importance of what is coming. And its significance is rightly estimated. These two verses guard against very possible misconception, and give the author's real and mature conclusion. When this is received, all that need be said has been uttered. Fear God (ha-Elohim), and keep his commandments. This injunction is the practical result of the whole discussion. Amid the difficulties of the moral government of the world, amid the complications of society, varying and opposing interests and claims, one duty remained plain and unchanging - the duty of piety and obedience. For this is the whole duty of man. The Hebrew is literally, "This is every man," which is explained to mean, "This is every man's duty." Septuagint, Ὅτι τοῦτο πᾶς ὁ ἄνθρωπος: Vulgate, Hoc est enim omnis homo. For this man was made and placed in the world; this is his real object, the chief good which he has to seek, and which alone will secure contentment and happiness. The obligation is put in the most general terms as applicable to the whole human family; for God is not the God of the Jews only, but of Gentiles also (Romans 3:29).

Ellicott's Commentary

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(13) Whole duty of man.--Rather, the duty of every man. The sacred writer practically anticipates the teaching of Romans 3:29.