9 Besides being wise, ⁿthe Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging ^omany proverbs with great care. 10 ⁿThe Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.

11 ^pThe words of the wise are like goads, and like ^qnails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are ^rgiven by ^sone Shepherd. 12 My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making ^umany books there is no end, and ^vmuch study is a weariness of the flesh.

13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. ^wFear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.¹ 14 For ^xGod will bring every deed into judgment, with² every secret thing, whether good or evil.