Ecclesiastes 12:13 (DRB)

Passage

Let us all hear together the conclusion of the discourse. Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is all man:

Nearby Context

Ecclesiastes 12:11 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.

Ecclesiastes 12:12 More than these, my son, require not. Of making many books there is no end: and much study is an affliction of the flesh.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us all hear together the conclusion of the discourse. Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is all man:

Ecclesiastes 12:14 And all things that are done, God will bring into judgment for every error, whether it be good or evil.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "hear", "together", "conclusion", "discourse", "fear", "keep", and "commandments". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "hear" and "together", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 12's "More than these my son require not..." into verse 14's "And all things that are done God...", so "hear" and "together" belong inside that flow. In Ecclesiastes context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "hear" and "together" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.