Parallel Verses
Lexham Expanded Bible
Whatever is--it was already determined, {what will be--it has already been decided}. As for man, he cannot argue against what is more powerful than him.
New American Standard Bible
Whatever
King James Version
That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.
Holman Bible
Whatever exists was given its name long ago,
International Standard Version
Whatever exists has been named already; people know what it means to be human and a person cannot defeat one who is more powerful than he.
A Conservative Version
Whatever has been, the name of it was given long ago, and it is know what man is. Neither can he contend with him who is mightier than he.
American Standard Version
Whatsoever hath been, the name thereof was given long ago; and it is know what man is; neither can he contend with him that is mightier than he.
Amplified
Whatever exists has already been named [long ago], and it is known what [a frail being] man is; for he cannot dispute with Him who is mightier than he.
Bible in Basic English
That which is, has been named before, and of what man is there is knowledge. He has no power against one stronger than he.
Darby Translation
That which is hath already been named; and what man is, is known, and that he cannot contend with him that is mightier than he.
Julia Smith Translation
What was, its name was called already, and it was known that it is man: and he shall not be able to contend with the powerful above him.
King James 2000
Whatever has been is named already, and it is known that this is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.
Modern King James verseion
That which has been is named already, and it is known that he is man. And he is not able to contend with Him who is mightier than he.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
The thing that hath been is named already, and known - that it is man himself: neither may he go to law with him that is mightier than he.
NET Bible
Whatever has happened was foreordained, and what happens to a person was also foreknown. It is useless for him to argue with God about his fate because God is more powerful than he is.
New Heart English Bible
Whatever has been, its name was given long ago; and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who is mightier than he.
The Emphasized Bible
Whatsoever one may be, long ago, was he called by his name, and it is known that it is - Son of Earth, - he cannot, therefore, contend with one stronger than he.
Webster
That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.
World English Bible
Whatever has been, its name was given long ago; and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who is mightier than he.
Youngs Literal Translation
What is that which hath been? already is its name called, and it is known that it is man, and he is not able to contend with him who is stronger than he.
Interlinear
Qara'
Yada`
Yakol
References
Hastings
Word Count of 20 Translations in Ecclesiastes 6:10
Verse Info
Context Readings
It Is Futile For Humans To Complain About God's Irresistible Will
9 {Better to be content with what your eyes see than for your soul to constantly crave more}. This also [is] vanity and chasing wind! 10 Whatever is--it was already determined, {what will be--it has already been decided}. As for man, he cannot argue against what is more powerful than him. 11 {Increasing words only multiplies futility}, how does that profit anyone?
Names
Cross References
Job 9:32
"For [he is] not a mortal like me [that] I can answer him, [that] {we can come to trial together}.
Ecclesiastes 3:15
What is--it already was, and what will be--it already is, for {God will do what he has done.}
Job 40:2
"Shall a faultfinder contend with Shaddai? Anyone who argues with God must answer it."
Genesis 3:9
And Yahweh God called to the man and said to him, "Where [are] you?"
Genesis 3:17-19
And to Adam he said, "Because you listened to the voice of your wife and you ate from the tree {from which I forbade you to eat}, the ground [shall be] cursed on your account. In pain you shall eat [from] it all the days of your life.
Job 9:3-4
If he wants to contend with him, he cannot answer him one [time] in a thousand.
Job 14:1-4
"A human being born of a woman [is] short of days and full of troubles.
Job 33:13
Why do you contend against him, that he will not answer all a person's words?
Psalm 39:6
Surely a man walks about as a [mere] {shadow}; surely in vain they bustle about. He heaps up [possessions] but does not know who [will] gather them [in].
Psalm 82:6-7
I have said, "You [are] gods, and sons of the Most High, all of you.
Psalm 103:15
As for man, his days [are] like the grass. As the flower of the field, so he blossoms.
Ecclesiastes 1:9-11
What has been--it is what will be; what has been done--it is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun.
Isaiah 45:9-10
Woe [to the] one who strives with his {maker}, a potsherd among potsherds of earth! Does [the] clay say to the one who fashions it, 'What are you making?' and 'Your work has no hands'?
Jeremiah 49:19
Look, like a lion he comes up from the thickets of the Jordan to {a pastureland by a constantly flowing stream}. So {I will chase him away hurriedly} from it. And whoever [is] chosen I will appoint over it. For who [is] like me, and who can summon me? And who [is] this, [the] shepherd who can stand {before me}?"
Romans 9:19-20
Therefore you will say to me, "Why then does he still find fault? For who has resisted his will?