Parallel Verses
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.
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."
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.
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 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 said in my heart, God will judge the righteous man and the wicked man, for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work. 18 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. 19 For that which befalls the sons of men befalls beasts, even one thing befalls them; as the one dies, so dies the other. Yea, they all have one breath, and man has no preeminence above the beasts; for all is vanity.
Cross References
Psalm 73:22
So I was brutish, and ignorant. I was a beast before thee.
Genesis 3:17-19
And to Adam he said, Because thou have hearkened to the voice of thy wife, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shall not eat of it, cursed is the ground for thy sake. In toil thou shall eat of it all
Job 14:1-4
Man, who is born of a woman, is of few days, and full of trouble.
Job 15:16
How much less one who is abominable and corrupt, a man who drinks iniquity like water!
Psalm 49:12
Even a man in splendor does not abide. He is like the beasts that perish.
Psalm 49:14
They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd, and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. And their beauty shall be for Sheol to consume, that there be no habitation for it.
Psalm 49:19-20
he shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light.
Psalm 51:4
Against thee, thee only, I have sinned, and done that which is evil in thy sight, that thou may be justified when thou speak, and {may prevail (LXX/NT)} when thou {are criticized (LXX/NT)}.
Psalm 73:18-19
Surely thou set them in slippery places. Thou cast them down to destruction.
Psalm 90:5-12
Thou carry them away as with a flood. They are as a sleep. In the morning they are like grass which grows up.
Romans 3:4
May it not happen! But let it come to pass God is true, but every man a liar, as it is written, That thou may ever be justified in thy words, and may prevail when thou are criticized.
Romans 9:23
and that he might make known the wealth of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he previously prepared for glory,
Hebrews 9:27
And inasmuch as it is reserved to men once to die, and after this, judgment,
1 Peter 1:24
Because all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as a flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower of it falls away,
2 Peter 2:12
But these men, like irrational beasts of nature, having been born for capture and destruction, speaking evil at which things they do not understand, will be destroyed in their corruption,