Fathers

Ecclesiastes 12

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Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw near, when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them;” Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain; in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look out of the windows are darkened, and the doors shall be shut in the street; when the sound of the grinding is low, and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low; yes, they shall be afraid of heights, and terrors will be on the way; and the almond tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goes to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets: before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the spring, or the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All is vanity!” Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs. The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth. 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. Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. 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. For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.

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What the Fathers say

Ecclesiastes 12:5

Western Saints

Jerome

"Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way. "That is, they will not be able to enter on difficult tasks and with tired knees and frightened footsteps, will not be able to go out in the open, and will fear the offence of steps." And the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goes to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets. "The speech now explains the limbs of a man of the Church through a metaphor. …

Commentary on Ecclesiastes ↗

Bonaventure

He adds the signs of debilitation, which are four: tremor of the body, whiteness of the head, swelling of the belly, and cooling of desire. The first sign of infirmity in the old person is tremor of the body; on account of which he says: "They shall also fear the heights and be afraid in the way," that is, all the members of the body shall become tremulous: and this is a sign of the dissolution and diminution of the retentive power of the members, which is unable to hold the members steady: and therefore it is compelled to …

Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 12 ↗