By the spirit of inspiration the king recorded for after generations the history of his wasted years with their lessons of warning. And thus, although the seed of his sowing was reaped by his people in harvests of evil, his life-work was not wholly lost. With meekness and lowliness Solomon in his later years "taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order 80 many proverbs." He "sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth." "The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. And further, by these, my son, be admonished." Ecclesiastes 12:9-12.

Kongen blev inspireret til at skildre de spildte år af sit liv for at advare kommende slægter, og skønt hans folk høstede de onde frugter af det, han havde sået, var hans livsgerning ikke helt forgæves. Da Salomo var blevet ældre, gav han sagtmodigt og ydmygt "folket kundskab; han granskede og ransagede og formede mange ordsprog". Han "søgte at finde ord og optegnede sanddru lære, sandhedsord. Som pigkæppe er de vises ord, som inddrevne søm, der sidder tæt; de er givet af en og samme hyrde. Endnu skal siges: Min søn, var dig!" Præd. 12,9-12.