Parallel Verses
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.
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.”
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 be judge of the good and of the bad; because a time for every purpose and for every work has been fixed by him. 18 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. 19 Because the fate of the sons of men and the fate of the beasts is the same. As is the death of one so is the death of the other, and all have one spirit. Man is not higher than the beasts; because all is to no purpose.
Cross References
Psalm 73:22
As for me, I was foolish, and without knowledge; I was like a beast before you.
Genesis 3:17-19
And to Adam he said, Because you gave ear to the voice of your wife and took of the fruit of the tree which I said you were not to take, the earth is cursed on your account; in pain you will get your food from it all your life.
Job 14:1-4
As for man, the son of woman, his days are short and full of trouble.
Job 15:16
How much less one who is disgusting and unclean, a man who takes in evil like water!
Job 40:8
Will you even make my right of no value? will you say that I am wrong in order to make clear that you are right?
Psalm 49:12
But man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.
Psalm 49:14
Death will give them their food like sheep; the underworld is their fate and they will go down into it; their flesh is food for worms; their form is wasted away; the underworld is their resting-place for ever.
Psalm 49:19-20
He will go to the generation of his fathers; he will not see the light again.
Psalm 51:4
Against you, you only, have I done wrong, working that which is evil in your eyes; so that your words may be seen to be right, and you may be clear when you are judging.
Psalm 73:18-19
You put their feet where there was danger of slipping, so that they go down into destruction.
Romans 3:4
In no way: but let God be true, though every man is seen to be untrue; as it is said in the Writings, That your words may be seen to be true, and you may be seen to be right when you are judged.
Romans 9:23
And to make clear the wealth of his glory to vessels of mercy, which he had before made ready for glory,
Hebrews 9:27
And because by God's law death comes to men once, and after that they are judged;
1 Peter 1:24
For it is said, All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the grass. The grass becomes dry and the flower dead:
2 Peter 2:12
But these men, like beasts without reason, whose natural use is to be taken and put to death, crying out against things of which they have no knowledge, will undergo that same destruction which they are designing for others;