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And the dust returns to the earth as it once was,
    and the life breath returns to God who gave it.[a](A)
Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth,
    all things are vanity!(B)

Epilogue. [b]Besides being wise, Qoheleth taught the people knowledge, and weighed, scrutinized and arranged many proverbs.

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Footnotes

  1. 12:7 Death is portrayed in terms of the description of creation in Gn 2:7; the body corrupts in the grave, and the life breath (lit., “spirit”), or gift of life, returns to God who had breathed upon what he had formed.
  2. 12:9 A disciple briefly describes and praises the master’s skill and reputation as a sage.

and the dust returns(A) to the ground it came from,
    and the spirit returns to God(B) who gave it.(C)

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.[a](D)
    “Everything is meaningless!(E)

The Conclusion of the Matter

Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.(F)

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 12:8 Or the leader of the assembly; also in verses 9 and 10