Parallel Verses
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.
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 should judge the righteous and the wicked for there is a time for every purpose and for every work.
18 I said
Cross References
Psalm 73:22
I was so foolish and ignorant: I was like a beast before you.
Genesis 3:17-19
He said to Adam: Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.
Job 14:1-4
Man born of woman, lives a short life that is full of trouble.
Job 15:16
how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks up evil like water!
Job 40:8
Would you undo my justice? Would you condemn me so that you can be righteous?
Psalm 49:12
But mortals will not continue here with what they treasure. They are like animals that die.
Psalm 49:14
Like sheep, they are laid in the grave. Death will shepherd them. The upright will rule them in the morning. Their forms will decay in the grave, far away from their comfortable homes.
Psalm 49:19-20
He must join the generation of his ancestors who will never see light again.
Psalm 51:4
I have sinned against you, especially you. I have done what you consider evil in your sight. So you hand down justice when you speak, and you are blameless when you judge.
Psalm 73:18-19
Surely you set them in slippery places. You threw them down into destruction.
Psalm 90:5-12
You sweep mortals away in the sleep of death. They sprout again in the morning like grass.
Romans 3:4
Certainly not! But let God be true, and every man false. It is written: So that you should be proved righteous in your words and should overcome when you are judged.
Romans 9:23
In that way he could make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy that he had prepared in advance for glory.
Hebrews 9:27
It is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment:
1 Peter 1:24
All people are like grass. All their glory is like the blossom of a flower. The grass withers and the flower drops off.
2 Peter 2:12
But these are creatures without reason. They were born mere animals to be taken and destroyed! They speak abusively in matters of which they are ignorant. They suffer destruction in their own course of destruction.