ris3n's Apologetics Codex

Passage

Ecclesiastes 12.7

Book: Ecclesiastes · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

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ASV (ASV)

"5. yea, they shall be afraid of that which is high, and terrors shall be in the way; and the almond-tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goeth to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets: 6. before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern,"

"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." (Ecclesiastes 12:5-9, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"5. yes, they shall be afraid of heights, and terrors will be on the way; and the almond tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goes to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets: 6. before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the spring, or the wheel broken at the cistern,"

"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." (Ecclesiastes 12:5-9, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"5. Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: 6. Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern."

"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. moreover: or, the more wise the preacher was, etc" (Ecclesiastes 12:5-9, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"5. Also of that which is high they are afraid, And of the low places in the way, And the almond-tree is despised, And the grasshopper is become a burden, And want is increased, For man is going unto his home age-during, And the mourners have gone round through the street. 6. While that the silver cord is not removed, And the golden bowl broken, And the pitcher broken by the fountain, And the wheel broken at the well."

"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." (Ecclesiastes 12:5-9, YLT)

Setting

  • Speaker: Qohelet (traditionally Solomon)
  • Audience: wisdom-seekers facing life's apparent vanity
  • Location: Israel
  • Time period: traditionally c. 935 BC (Solomon); some scholars date later c. 450-200 BC

Theological reading

Key words

Quoted in

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

  • ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
  • WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
  • KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
  • YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.