Kohelet's Conclusion
The book of Kohelet [Ecclesiastes] is an exploration of the meaning of life. In conclusion, after stating that Kohelet created many proverbs, which he taught the people, concluding advice is given in the last few sentences. Rather obscurely it says in one concluding sentence "The words of the wise are like goads, and implanted nails, masters of gatherings, given by one Shepherd" (Ecclesiastes 12:11)[my translation.] The Babylonian Talmud (in tractate Chagigah folio 3b) has an interpretation of this saying which is relevant in our time as much as in ancient times. The following is my translation and interpretation of that text.
Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah started out and said [sermonized]: It is said, "The words of the wise are like goads, and implanted nails, masters of gatherings, given by one Shepherd" (Ecclesiastes 12:11). Why were the words of the Torah likened to goads ? -- to tell you: just as the goad directs the cow to its furrows to bring life to the world [i.e. by providing food] so too the words of the Torah direct their learners from the ways of death to the ways of life. But [ you might say] just as this goad is disturbing [not fixed] so too the words of the Torah are disturbing, so it says "like nails" that are fixed in place. But [ you might say] just as the nail decreases and does not increase [the substance it is attached to] so too the words of the Torah decrease and do not increase [substance] so it says are planted, so too the words of the Torah cause flowering and cause increase. [Why does it then say] "masters of gatherings", these are the scholars who sit in gatherings and engage in the Torah, some say a thing is impure but some say the thing is pure, some say a matter is forbidden but others say a matter is permitted. Lest a man should say "how can I learn Torah" [as there are so many disagreements among the scholars] so it says "given by one shepherd" to tell that they all were given by one shepherd, one God gave them, one provider [i.e. Moses] said them, from the mouth of the Master of all deeds [they come from God ] as it is written (Exodus 20: 1),"and God spoke all these things" [i.e. the language is plural in Scripture, that is to imply all things, all the changes and disputes] so too you make your ears like an earpiece [to hear everything] and obtain a heart [mind] to hear the words of those making impure and those making pure, the words of those who forbid and the words of those who permit [i.e. hear everyone as part of your decision making process].
This is good advice for everyone, possibly especially, in our time and for all times.