The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
Parallel translations
- WEB The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth.
- BSB The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.
- NKJV The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright—words of truth.
- NASB The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly.
- NLT The Teacher sought to find just the right words to express truths clearly.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The Preacher aimed at words that were both pleasing and truthful, written with integrity. It assures us Scripture's wisdom is both beautiful and reliable.
Overview
The epilogue commends the Preacher's care to find "acceptable words" that were also upright and true, joining literary skill with honest accuracy. Biblical wisdom is meant to be winsome yet never compromise the truth, an apt model for all godly teaching. This union of grace and truth is perfectly fulfilled in Christ, who came "full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Col 1:5For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
- 1 Tim 1:15This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
- Prov 16:21–24The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
- Prov 8:6–10Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
- Prov 15:26The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
- Prov 1:1–6The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
- Prov 25:11–12A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
- Prov 22:17–21Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
- Eccl 1:1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
- Luke 1:1–4Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
- Prov 15:23A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
- John 3:11Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
- Eccl 1:12I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The search that finds everything 'under the sun' to be vapor exposes the emptiness of life without God and drives us to the one who alone gives meaning, the resurrection that makes our labor not in vain.
How Ecclesiastes 12:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.