The Syriac also gives here, from Theodotion, what is possibly a rendering of this place, but may be intended for παρεωραμένῳ, in verse 14, (‡ Syriac phrase), _i.e._ ἀόρατοι, ‘unseen things.’ The Peshito rendering, perhaps, may give us the clue――these ‘collections’ or ‘collectanea’ are the instances of human life adduced by Koheleth, and it is men [like a herd of oxen driven by goads, and confined by stakes] over which these wise words are masters; and this we think will make all clear. The meaning of the passage will be: ‘These words of wise men are like goads, by which the ox is incited to labour, but then they are like stakes [_i.e._ to which the ox may be tied, or, of which a fence might be made to confine him] as well, planted around the persons brought together, [or the herd, and so infixed as masters of the assembly]; they are given from the shepherd [or herdsman’――for the word has both senses] ――‘who is the only one;’ or, since מֵרֶֹעֶה is ambiguous, and pointed מִרְעֶה means ‘pasture,’ they give pasture only. Thus the metaphor is kept up and the equivoke maintained). ♦ referencing the “※” symbol 12 And further, by these, │ But as to anything else from my son, be admonished: of │ these, my son, be warned: making many books _there is_ │ making of many treatises would no end; and much ¹study _is_ │ lead to no result, and much a weariness of the flesh. │ study would but weary the body. │ ¹ _Or_, reading. │ (12.) =But for the rest= (repeating the formula of verse 9, and hence a further extension of the same idea), =from them= (emphatic, ‘but for anything else that these wise words can do’ is the meaning) =my son, be admonished: makings= of =books= (ספרים used for the sake of the alliteration with אספות above) =the many= (_i.e._ too many) =is nothing of an end= (_i.e._ gives no result) =and study= (להג occurs here only, LXX. μελέτη) =the much= (too much) =wearies= (compare chapter i. 8) =the flesh=. (Thus even wisdom itself is no cure for the ills of humanity. The catalogue of human ills and the instances of human evanescence would form too large a volume for humanity to master, so that in this case also the world itself would not contain the books which should be written. The grand result of all however is easily obtained, and follows.) 13 ¶ ¹Let us hear the │ The end of the matter, even conclusion of the whole │ all that hath been heard, matter: Fear God, and keep his │ is this: WITH REGARD TO THE commandments: for this _is_ │ ALMIGHTY, FEAR HIM; AND WITH the whole _duty_ of man. │ REGARD ALSO TO HIS COMMANDMENTS, │ KEEP THEM, FOR THIS IS ¹ _Or_, The end of the │ EVERYTHING TO HUMANITY. matter, _even_ all that │ hath been heard, _is_. │