Ecclesiastes 12:7-10 in English

⁷ and the dust returneth to the earth as it was, and the spirit returneth unto God who gave it.

⁸ Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.

⁹ And further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he pondered, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

¹⁰ The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written uprightly, even words of truth.

⁷ before the dust also return to the earth as it was, and the spirit return to God who gave it.

⁸ Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher; all is vanity.

⁹ And because the Preacher was wise above others, so it was that he taught man excellent knowledge, and the ear will trace out the parables.

¹⁰ The Preacher sought diligently to find out acceptable words, and a correct writing, even words of truth.

⁷ Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

⁸ Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

⁹ And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

¹⁰ The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.

⁷ Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

⁸ Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

⁹ And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

¹⁰ The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.

⁷ before the dust also return to the earth as it was, and the spirit return to God who gave it.

⁸ Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher; all is vanity.

⁹ And because the Preacher was wise above others, so it was that he taught man excellent knowledge, and the ear will trace out the parables.

¹⁰ The Preacher sought diligently to find out acceptable words, and a correct writing, even words of truth.

⁷ and the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit return unto God who gave it.

⁸ Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.

⁹ And further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he pondered, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

¹⁰ The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written uprightly, even words of truth.

⁷ Then our corpses will decay and become dirt again, and our spirits will return to God, the one who gave us our spirits.

⁸ So I say again that it is difficult to understand why everything happens; everything is mysterious.

⁹ I was considered to be a very wise man, and I taught the people many things. I assembled/collected and wrote down many proverbs, and I carefully thought about and studied them.

¹⁰ I searched for the right words, and what I have written is reliable and true.

⁷ before the dust also return to the earth as it was, and the spirit return to God who gave it.

⁸ Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher; all is vanity.

⁹ And because the Preacher was wise above others, so it was that he taught man excellent knowledge, and the ear will trace out the parables.

¹⁰ The Preacher sought diligently to find out acceptable words, and a correct writing, even words of truth.

⁷ and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

⁸ “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All is vanity!”

⁹ Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

¹⁰ The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth.

⁷ and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

⁸ “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All is vanity!”

⁹ Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

¹⁰ The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth.

⁷ and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

⁸ “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All is vanity!”

⁹ Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

¹⁰ The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth.

⁷ And the dust goes back to the earth as it was, and the spirit goes back to God who gave it.

⁸ All things are to no purpose, says the Preacher, all is to no purpose.

⁹ And because the Preacher was wise he still gave the people knowledge; searching out, testing, and putting in order a great number of wise sayings.

¹⁰ The Preacher made search for words which were pleasing, but his writing was in words upright and true.

⁷ and the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit return unto God who gave it.

⁸ Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher: all is vanity.

⁹ And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

¹⁰ The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words; and that which was written is upright, words of truth.

⁷ And the dust return into its earth, from whence it was, and the spirit return to God, who gave it.

⁸ Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, and all things are vanity.

⁹ And whereas Ecclesiastes was very wise, he taught the people, and declared the things that he had done: and seeking out, he set forth many parables.

¹⁰ He sought profitable words, and wrote words most right, and full of truth.

⁷ Then the dust returns to the earth from which it came, and the breath of life returns to God who gave it.

⁸ “Everything passes! It's all so hard to understand!” says the Teacher.

⁹ Not only was the Teacher a wise man, he also taught what he knew to others. He thought about many proverbs, studying them and arranging them.

¹⁰ The Teacher looked for the best way to explain things, writing truthfully and honestly.

⁷ And dust returne to the earth as it was, and the spirit returne to God that gaue it.

⁸ Vanitie of vanities, saieth the Preacher, all is vanitie.

⁹ And the more wise the Preacher was, the more he taught the people knowledge, and caused them to heare, and searched foorth, and prepared many parables.

¹⁰ The Preacher sought to finde out pleasant wordes, and an vpright writing, euen the wordes of trueth.

⁷ And the dust returneth to the earth as it was, and the spirit returneth unto God who gave it.

⁸ Vanity of vanities, saith Koheleth; all is vanity.

⁹ And besides that Koheleth was wise, he also taught the people knowledge; yea, he pondered, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

¹⁰ Koheleth sought to find out words of delight, and that which was written uprightly, even words of truth.

⁷ Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

⁸ Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.

⁹ And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

¹⁰ The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.

⁷ When the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return unto God who gave it.—

⁸ Vanity of vanities, saith Koheleth: all is vanity.—

⁹ And in addition to this that Koheleth was wise, he continually also taught the people knowledge, and he probed, and searched out, and composed many proverbs.

¹⁰ Koheleth sought to find out acceptable words, and that which would be written down uprightly, even words of truth.

⁷ Before the dust also return to the earth as it was, And the spirit return to God who gave it.

⁸ Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher; All is vanity.

⁹ And because the Preacher was wise above others, So it was that he taught man excellent knowledge, And the ear will trace out the parables.

¹⁰ The Preacher sought diligently To find out acceptable words, And a correct writing, even words of truth.

⁷ and the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit return to God who gave it.

⁸ Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity!

⁹ Moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he considered, and sought out, and set in order, many proverbs.

¹⁰ The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and to write correctly words of truth.

⁷ before the dust returns to the earth where it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

⁸ “A mist of vapor,” says the Teacher, “everything is vanishing vapor.”

⁹ The Teacher was wise and he taught the people knowledge. He studied and contemplated and set in order many proverbs.

¹⁰ The Teacher sought to write using vivid, upright words of truth.

⁷ and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

⁸ “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All is vanity!”

⁹ Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

¹⁰ The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth.

⁷ and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

⁸ “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All is vanity!”

⁹ Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

¹⁰ The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth.

⁷ Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return to God who gave it.

⁸ Vanity of vanities saith the preacher; all is vanity.

⁹ And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge: yes, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

¹⁰ The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.

⁷ and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

⁸ “Vanity of vanities,” says Kohelet. “All is vanity!”

⁹ Further, because Kohelet was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

¹⁰ The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth.

⁷ and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

⁸ “Vanity of vanities,” says Kohelet. “All is vanity!”

⁹ Further, because Kohelet was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

¹⁰ The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth.

⁷ and dust turn again into his earth, whereof it was, and the spirit turn again to God, that gave it.

⁸ The vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, the vanity of vanities, and all things be vanity. Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, vanity of vanities, and all things vanity.

⁹ And when Ecclesiastes was most wise, he taught the people, and he told out the things which he did, and he sought out wisdom, and made many parables;

¹⁰ he sought profitable words, and he wrote most rightful or right words, and full of truth.

⁷ and dust turn again into his earth, whereof it was, and the spirit turn again to God, that gave it. (and the dust, or the dirt, return to the earth, where it was before, and the spirit return to God, who gave it.)

⁸ The vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, the vanity of vanities, and all things be vanity. Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, vanity of vanities, and all things vanity. (Emptiness and futility, said Ecclesiastes, yea, everything is emptiness and futility.)

⁹ And when Ecclesiastes was most wise (or And for Ecclesiastes was most wise), he taught the people, and he told out the things which he did, and he sought out wisdom, and made many parables;

¹⁰ he sought (out) profitable words, and he wrote most rightful words, and full of truth.

⁷ And the dust returneth to the earth as it was, And the spirit returneth to God who gave it.

⁸ Vanity of vanities, said the preacher, the whole is vanity.

⁹ And further, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge, and gave ear, and sought out — he made right many similes.

¹⁰ The preacher sought to find out pleasing words, and, written by the upright, words of truth.