Ecclesiastes 6:12

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few days of their fleeting life? They pass like a shadow. Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?

Additional Resources

Other Translations

  • King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

    For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

  • KJV1611 – Modern English

    For who knows what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spends as a shadow? For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?

  • King James Version 1611 (Original)

    For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

  • American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

    For who knoweth what is good for man in [his] life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

  • King James Version with Strong's Numbers

    For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

  • Coverdale Bible (1535)

    For who knoweth what is good for man lyuynge, in ye dayes of his vayne life, which is but a shadowe? Or, who wil tell a man, what shal happen after him vnder the Sonne?

  • Geneva Bible (1560)

    (7:2) For who knoweth what is good for man in the life and in the nomber of the dayes of the life of his vanitie, seeing he maketh them as a shadowe? For who can shewe vnto man what shall be after him vnder the sunne?

  • Bishops' Bible (1568)

    For who knoweth what is good for man liuing in the dayes of his vayne life, whiche is but a shadowe? Or who wyl tell a man what shall happen after hym vnder the sunne?

  • Authorized King James Version (1611)

    For who knoweth what [is] good for man in [this] life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

  • Webster's Bible (1833)

    For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spends like a shadow? For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?

  • Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

    For who knoweth what `is' good for a man in life, the number of the days of the life of his vanity, and he maketh them as a shadow? for who declareth to man what is after him under the sun?

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    For who knoweth what is good for man in `his' life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    For who knoweth what is good for man in [his] life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

  • Bible in Basic English (1941)

    Who is able to say what is good for man in life all the days of his foolish life which he goes through like a shade? who will say what is to be after him under the sun?

  • World English Bible (2000)

    For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spends like a shadow? For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?

  • NET Bible® (New English Translation)

    For no one knows what is best for a person during his life– during the few days of his fleeting life– for they pass away like a shadow. Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth.

Referenced Verses

  • Job 14:2 : 2 He springs up like a flower and withers away; he flees like a shadow and does not endure.
  • Eccl 3:22 : 22 So I saw that there is nothing better than for a person to rejoice in their work, for that is their lot. Who can bring them to see what will happen after them?
  • Lam 3:24-27 : 24 The LORD is my portion, says my soul; therefore I will hope in Him. 25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. 26 It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. 27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth.
  • Jas 4:14 : 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
  • Eccl 8:7 : 7 Since no one knows what will happen, who can tell anyone what is to come?
  • Eccl 8:13 : 13 But it will not go well for the wicked, nor will they prolong their days like a shadow, because they do not fear God.
  • Ps 144:4 : 4 Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.
  • Ps 39:5-6 : 5 LORD, let me know my end and the number of my days, so I may understand how fleeting my life is. 6 Behold, You have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before You. Surely, every man is but a breath. Selah.
  • Ps 47:4 : 4 He subdues peoples under us and nations beneath our feet.
  • Ps 89:47 : 47 How long, LORD? Will you hide yourself forever? Will your wrath keep burning like fire?
  • Ps 90:10-12 : 10 The span of our life is seventy years—or eighty, if we have strength; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. 11 Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you. 12 Teach us to number our days carefully, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
  • Ps 102:11 : 11 Because of your wrath and indignation, for you have lifted me up and thrown me aside.
  • Ps 109:23 : 23 I am fading away like a shadow at sunset; I am shaken off like a locust.
  • Job 14:21 : 21 If his sons are honored, he does not know it; if they are brought low, he does not see it.
  • Ps 4:6 : 6 Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD.
  • Ps 16:5 : 5 The LORD is my portion and my cup; You hold my lot secure.
  • Ps 17:15 : 15 As for me, I will see your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.
  • Eccl 2:3 : 3 I explored with my heart how to cheer my body with wine, while my mind guided me with wisdom, and how to embrace folly until I could see what is good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.
  • 1 Chr 29:15 : 15 For we are strangers and temporary residents before you, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.
  • Job 8:9 : 9 for we were only born yesterday and know nothing, and our days on earth are but a shadow.
  • Eccl 9:6 : 6 Their love, their hatred, and their envy have already vanished, and they will never again have a part in anything that happens under the sun.
  • Eccl 12:13 : 13 Now that all has been heard, here is the conclusion: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.
  • Mic 6:8 : 8 He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Eccl 6:1-11
    11 verses
    86%

    1There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it is great upon humanity.

    2God gives a man wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires. Yet God does not enable him to enjoy them, but instead a foreigner eats them. This is meaningless and a grievous misfortune.

    3A man may father a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy life's good things and receives no proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.

    4For it comes in vain and departs in darkness, and its name is covered in darkness.

    5Though it has never seen the sun or known anything, it has more rest than that man.

    6Even if someone lives a thousand years twice over but does not enjoy their prosperity, do not all go to the same place?

    7All human toil is for their mouth, yet their appetite is never satisfied.

    8What advantage has the wise person over the fool? What does the poor person gain by knowing how to conduct themselves before the living?

    9Better is what the eyes see than the wandering of desire. This too is meaningless and a chasing after the wind.

    10Whatever exists has already been given its name, and it is known what mankind is; no one can contend with someone who is stronger.

    11The more words, the more meaningless—and what advantage does that bring to anyone?

  • Eccl 2:15-26
    12 verses
    83%

    15Then I said in my heart, 'What happens to the fool will also happen to me. So why have I been so very wise?' And I concluded in my heart, 'This too is meaningless.'

    16For the wise, like the fool, will not be remembered forever; in the days to come, everything will be forgotten. How does the wise person die? Just like the fool!

    17So I hated life, because the work done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

    18I hated all my toil under the sun because I must leave it to the one who comes after me.

    19And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will rule over all the fruit of my labor that I have worked for under the sun. This too is meaningless.

    20So I turned my heart to despair over all the hard work with which I had labored under the sun.

    21For there is a person who labors with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, but then must leave everything to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.

    22What does a person gain from all their labor and from the striving of their heart under the sun?

    23All their days are full of sorrow, and their work is filled with grief; even at night their mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.

    24There is nothing better for a person than to eat and drink and find enjoyment in their work. This too, I realized, is from the hand of God.

    25For who can eat or who can enjoy life apart from Him?

    26To the person who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, He gives the task of gathering and storing wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

  • Eccl 1:2-3
    2 verses
    82%

    2“Utterly meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”

    3What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?

  • Eccl 8:6-7
    2 verses
    81%

    6For every purpose there is a proper time and procedure, though the misery of mankind weighs heavily upon them.

    7Since no one knows what will happen, who can tell anyone what is to come?

  • Eccl 3:21-22
    2 verses
    80%

    21Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down to the earth?

    22So I saw that there is nothing better than for a person to rejoice in their work, for that is their lot. Who can bring them to see what will happen after them?

  • Eccl 8:17
    79%

    17then I saw all the work of God, that no one can understand the work that is done under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can comprehend it. Even if the wise claim to know, they cannot truly understand it.

  • Eccl 3:12
    79%

    12I know that there is nothing better for people than to rejoice and to do good while they live.

  • Eccl 11:8
    78%

    8For if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in all of them, but let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. All that comes is meaningless.

  • Ps 144:4
    78%

    4Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.

  • Ps 39:6
    78%

    6Behold, You have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before You. Surely, every man is but a breath. Selah.

  • Eccl 2:11-12
    2 verses
    77%

    11Yet when I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, behold, everything was meaningless—a chasing after the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun.

    12So I turned my attention to consider wisdom, madness, and folly. For what can anyone do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done.

  • Eccl 12:8
    77%

    8'Utter futility,' says the Teacher. 'Everything is futile!'

  • Eccl 4:16
    76%

    16There is no end to all the people who were before them, yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

  • Eccl 3:19
    76%

    19For the fate of humans and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; they all have the same breath, and humans have no advantage over animals, for everything is meaningless.

  • Eccl 5:16
    76%

    16Throughout his days, he eats in darkness, with great frustration, sickness, and anger.

  • Eccl 8:15
    76%

    15So I praised enjoyment, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat, drink, and be glad. This will accompany them in their toil through the days of life that God has given them under the sun.

  • Eccl 1:14
    76%

    14I have seen all the deeds that are done under the sun; they are all meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

  • Eccl 9:9-10
    2 verses
    75%

    9Enjoy life with the wife you love all the days of your meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your portion in life and in your hard work under the sun.

    10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

  • Eccl 5:18
    75%

    18Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and enables them to enjoy it, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.

  • Eccl 4:3
    75%

    3But better than both is the one who has not yet been born, who has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

  • Eccl 9:3
    75%

    3This is the distressing thing about everything that happens under the sun: the same fate befalls all. Moreover, the hearts of humans are full of evil, and madness resides in their hearts during their lives; and after that, they join the dead.

  • Eccl 4:8
    75%

    8There was a man all alone. He had no son or brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. 'For whom am I toiling,' he asked, 'and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?' This too is meaningless—a miserable business!

  • Eccl 9:1
    74%

    1So I reflected on all this and set my heart to examine it: that the righteous, the wise, and their deeds are in the hand of God. People do not know whether love or hatred awaits them; everything lies before them.

  • Jas 4:14
    74%

    14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.