I, even I, do bring the flood of waters on this earth, to destroy all flesh having the breath of life from under the sky. Everything that is in the earth will die.

But man dies, and is laid low. Yes, man gives up the spirit, and where is he?

"My spirit is consumed. My days are extinct, And the grave is ready for me.

(For the length of my life is still in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils);

but have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And they have brought the vessels of his house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see, nor hear, nor know. And the God in whose hand your breath is, and whose are all your ways, you have not glorified.

He returneth

You turn man to destruction, saying, "Return, you children of men."

By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

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

His thoughts

His sons come to honor, and he doesn't know it. They are brought low, but he doesn't perceive it of them.

My days are past, my plans are broken off, as are the thoughts of my heart.

Stop trusting in man, whose breath is in his nostrils; for of what account is he?

The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits; of whom we said, "Under his shadow we can live among the nations."

We speak wisdom, however, among those who are mature, but a wisdom not of this age or of the rulers of this age, who will pass away.

General references

When a wicked man dies, hope perishes, and expectation of power comes to nothing.