Ecclesiastes 12

The book climaxes with a poignant poem urging, “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth,” before the hard days come and old age and death, pictured in fading images of a failing body, dissolve life and the spirit returns to God who gave it. The Preacher affirms that his words, given “by one Shepherd,” are true and good, and delivers the whole book’s conclusion: “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.”