Parallel Verses
NET Bible
I also thought to myself, "It is for the sake of people, so God can clearly show them that they are like animals.
New American Standard Bible
I said
King James Version
I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
Holman Bible
I said to myself, “This happens concerning people, so that God may test them and they may see for themselves that they are like animals.”
International Standard Version
"As for human beings," I told myself, "God puts them to the test, that they might see themselves as mere animals."
A Conservative Version
I said in my heart, [It is] because of the sons of men, that God may prove them, and that they may see that they themselves are beasts.
American Standard Version
I said in my heart, It is because of the sons of men, that God may prove them, and that they may see that they themselves are but as beasts.
Amplified
I said to myself regarding the sons of men, “God is surely testing them in order for them to see that [by themselves, without God] they are [only] animals.”
Bible in Basic English
I said in my heart, It is because of the sons of men, so that God may put them to the test and that they may see themselves as beasts.
Darby Translation
I said in my heart, It is thus with the children of men, that God may prove them, and that they should see that they themselves are but beasts.
Julia Smith Translation
I said in my heart concerning the speeches of the sons of man, for God to separate them, and for them to see that they are cattle to themselves.
King James 2000
I said in my heart concerning the condition of the sons of men, that God might reveal them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
Lexham Expanded Bible
I said to myself concerning {humans}, "God sifts them in order to show them that they are like beasts."
Modern King James verseion
I said in my heart concerning the matter of sons of men, that God might reveal them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
I communed with mine own heart also concerning the children of men: how God hath chosen them, and yet letteth them appear as though they were beasts.
New Heart English Bible
I said in my heart, "As for the sons of men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals.
The Emphasized Bible
Said, I, in my heart, as concerning the sons of men, That God was minded to prove them, - and that they might see, that they were beasts, of themselves.
Webster
I said in my heart concerning the state of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
World English Bible
I said in my heart, "As for the sons of men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals.
Youngs Literal Translation
I said in my heart concerning the matter of the sons of man that God might cleanse them, so as to see that they themselves are beasts.
Interlinear
Leb
'elohiym
Barar
References
Morish
Word Count of 20 Translations in Ecclesiastes 3:18
Verse Info
Context Readings
God's Mysterious Plan Allows Injustice To Exist In The World
17 I thought to myself, "God will judge both the righteous and the wicked; for there is an appropriate time for every activity, and there is a time of judgment for every deed. 18 I also thought to myself, "It is for the sake of people, so God can clearly show them that they are like animals. 19 For the fate of humans and the fate of animals are the same: As one dies, so dies the other; both have the same breath. There is no advantage for humans over animals, for both are fleeting.
Cross References
Psalm 73:22
I was ignorant and lacked insight; I was as senseless as an animal before you.
Genesis 3:17-19
But to Adam he said, "Because you obeyed your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat from it,' cursed is the ground thanks to you; in painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.
Job 14:1-4
"Man, born of woman, lives but a few days, and they are full of trouble.
Job 15:16
how much less man, who is abominable and corrupt, who drinks in evil like water!
Job 40:8
Would you indeed annul my justice? Would you declare me guilty so that you might be right?
Psalm 49:12
but, despite their wealth, people do not last, they are like animals that perish.
Psalm 49:14
They will travel to Sheol like sheep, with death as their shepherd. The godly will rule over them when the day of vindication dawns; Sheol will consume their bodies and they will no longer live in impressive houses.
Psalm 49:19-20
But he will join his ancestors; they will never again see the light of day.
Psalm 51:4
Against you -- you above all -- I have sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. So you are just when you confront me; you are right when you condemn me.
Psalm 73:18-19
Surely you put them in slippery places; you bring them down to ruin.
Psalm 90:5-12
You bring their lives to an end and they "fall asleep." In the morning they are like the grass that sprouts up;
Romans 3:4
Absolutely not! Let God be proven true, and every human being shown up as a liar, just as it is written: "so that you will be justified in your words and will prevail when you are judged."
Romans 9:23
And what if he is willing to make known the wealth of his glory on the objects of mercy that he has prepared beforehand for glory --
Hebrews 9:27
And just as people are appointed to die once, and then to face judgment,
1 Peter 1:24
For all flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of the grass; the grass withers and the flower falls off,
2 Peter 2:12
But these men, like irrational animals -- creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed -- do not understand whom they are insulting, and consequently in their destruction they will be destroyed,