Charles Spurgeon Commentary Ecclesiastes 12:10-11

"The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written uprightly, [even] words of truth. The words of the wise are as goads; and as nails well fastened are [the words of] the masters of assemblies, [which] are given from one shepherd." — Ecclesiastes 12:10-11 (ASV)

And that which was written was upright, even words of truth.

The words of the wise are as goods, and as nails fastened by the Masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

The true preacher's words pierce us like the sharp ox-goads pierce the cattle, but they are also like nails that are driven into the wood, and clinched so that they cannot come out. There must be something to stir our emotions, and something to retain in our memory. We need the goads, for we are like the ox that is slow at the plough; and we need to have the nails well driven into us, for our memory is often like a rotten piece of wood which lets the nail slip out as soon as it has to bear any weight. May the Holy Spirit make all of us, who are preachers, to be wise so as to know how to use the good and how to drive the nail!