Ecclesiastes 12:10-12

New Living Translation

¹⁰ The Teacher sought to find just the right words to express truths clearly.^[a]

¹¹ The words of the wise are like cattle prods—painful but helpful. Their collected sayings are like a nail-studded stick with which a shepherd^[b] drives the sheep.

¹² But, my child,^[c] let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out.