Parallel Verses
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.
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.
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 and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work." 18 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. 19 For that which happens to the sons of men happens to animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the other dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage over the animals: for all is vanity.
Cross References
Psalm 73:22
I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you.
Genesis 3:17-19
To Adam he said, "Because you have listened to your wife's voice, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground for your sake. In toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.
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!
Job 40:8
Will you even annul my judgment? Will you condemn me, that you may be justified?
Psalm 49:12
But man, despite his riches, doesn't endure. He is like the animals that perish.
Psalm 49:14
They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. Their beauty shall decay in Sheol, far from their mansion.
Psalm 49:19-20
he shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light.
Psalm 51:4
Against you, and you only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight; that you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge.
Psalm 73:18-19
Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.
Psalm 90:5-12
You sweep them away as they sleep. In the morning they sprout like new grass.
Romans 3:4
May it never be! Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, "That you might be justified in your words, and might prevail when you come into judgment."
Romans 9:23
and that he might make known the riches of his glory on vessels of mercy, which he prepared beforehand for glory,
Hebrews 9:27
Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment,
1 Peter 1:24
For, "All flesh is like grass, and all of man's glory like the flower in the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls;
2 Peter 2:12
But these, as unreasoning creatures, born natural animals to be taken and destroyed, speaking evil in matters about which they are ignorant, will in their destroying surely be destroyed,