WEBVTT - Ecclesiastes 12

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<v Speaker 1>Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your

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<v Speaker 1>walk with Christ, please visit us at BibleStudyHeadquarters.com. You're listening

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<v Speaker 1>to the chapter a day audio Bible. I'm John Stonge

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<v Speaker 1>and today we're in Ecclesiastes chapter 12 and we'll be

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<v Speaker 1>reading from the New English Translation. So remember your creator

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<v Speaker 1>in the days of your youth. before the difficult days come,

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<v Speaker 1>and the years draw near when you will say, I

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<v Speaker 1>have no pleasure in them, before the sun and the

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<v Speaker 1>light of the moon and the stars grow dark, and

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<v Speaker 1>the clouds disappear after the rain, when those who keep

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<v Speaker 1>watch over the house begin to tremble, and the virile

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<v Speaker 1>men begin to stoop over, and the grinders begin to

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<v Speaker 1>cease because they grow few, and those who look through

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<v Speaker 1>the windows grow dim, And the doors along the street

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<v Speaker 1>are shut when the sound of the grinding mill grows low.

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<v Speaker 1>And one is awakened by the sound of a bird,

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<v Speaker 1>and all their songs grow faint. And they are afraid

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<v Speaker 1>of heights and the dangers in the street. The almond

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<v Speaker 1>blossoms grow white, and the grasshopper drags itself along, and

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<v Speaker 1>the caperberry shrivels up, because man goes to his eternal home.

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<v Speaker 1>And the mourners go about in the streets. Before the

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<v Speaker 1>silver cord is removed, or the golden bowl is broken,

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<v Speaker 1>or the pitcher is shattered at the well, or the

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<v Speaker 1>water wheel is broken at the cistern, and the dust

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<v Speaker 1>returns to the earth as it was, and the life's

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<v Speaker 1>breath returns to God who gave it. Absolutely futile, laments

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<v Speaker 1>the teacher. All of these things are futile. Not only

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<v Speaker 1>was the teacher wise, but he also taught knowledge to

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<v Speaker 1>the people. He carefully evaluated and arranged many proverbs. The

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<v Speaker 1>teacher sought to find delightful words and to write accurately

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<v Speaker 1>truthful sayings. The words of the sages are like prods,

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<v Speaker 1>and the collected sayings are like firmly fixed nails. They

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<v Speaker 1>are given by one shepherd. Be warned, my son, of

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<v Speaker 1>anything in addition to them. There is no end to

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<v Speaker 1>the making of many books, and much study is exhausting

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<v Speaker 1>to the body. Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion.

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<v Speaker 1>Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the

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<v Speaker 1>whole duty of man. For God will evaluate every deed,

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<v Speaker 1>including every secret thing, whether good or evil. Let's pray. Lord,

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<v Speaker 1>we thank you for your word, and we thank you

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<v Speaker 1>for the privilege to be able to look at it together.

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<v Speaker 1>We thank you for the wisdom that you give to

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<v Speaker 1>us through faith in your Son, Jesus Christ. And we're thankful, Lord,

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<v Speaker 1>for the encouragement that you give to us to be

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<v Speaker 1>people who revere you, to be people who have a

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<v Speaker 1>healthy respect of you and a healthy fear of you,

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<v Speaker 1>to be people who desire to glorify you in all

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<v Speaker 1>areas of our lives, recognizing that there's coming a day

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<v Speaker 1>when we will stand before your throne and you will

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<v Speaker 1>evaluate our lives. Lord, everything that we try to hide

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<v Speaker 1>is going to be laid bare. Everything that we try

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<v Speaker 1>and conceal is going to be brought into the open.

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<v Speaker 1>But Lord, we're grateful that through faith in your son,

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<v Speaker 1>Jesus Christ, we are not condemned. Our condemnation rests on Jesus.

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<v Speaker 1>He took it upon himself so that we can come

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<v Speaker 1>before your throne as men and women who have been

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<v Speaker 1>rescued and redeemed by Christ. We're grateful for this reality,

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<v Speaker 1>and we're grateful, Lord, to receive wisdom as we study

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<v Speaker 1>your word together and allow your Holy Spirit to work

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<v Speaker 1>within our hearts. Thank you, Lord, for transforming our minds.

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<v Speaker 1>Thank you for making us a new creation in Christ,

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<v Speaker 1>and we pray that you'd be honored in the way

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<v Speaker 1>that we spend this day and every day. We pray

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<v Speaker 1>this all in Jesus' name.