Ecclesiastes 12:9 (DRB)

Passage

And whereas Ecclesiastes was very wise, he taught the people, and declared the things that he had done: and seeking out, he set forth many parables.

Nearby Context

Ecclesiastes 12:7 And the dust return into its earth, from whence it was, and the spirit return to God, who gave it.

Ecclesiastes 12:8 Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, and all things are vanity.

Ecclesiastes 12:9 And whereas Ecclesiastes was very wise, he taught the people, and declared the things that he had done: and seeking out, he set forth many parables.

Ecclesiastes 12:10 He sought profitable words, and wrote words most right, and full of truth.

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.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "whereas", "ecclesiastes", "very", "wise", "taught", "people", "declared", and "things". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "whereas" and "ecclesiastes", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "Vanity of vanities said Ecclesiastes and all..." into verse 10's "He sought profitable words and wrote words...", so "whereas" and "ecclesiastes" 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 "whereas" and "ecclesiastes" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.