Parallel Verses

New American Standard Bible

Whatever exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he cannot dispute with him who is stronger than he is.

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, and it is known what man is. But he is not able to contend with the One stronger than he.

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.

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.

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

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
כּבר 
K@bar 
Usage: 9

that it is man
אדם 
'adam 
Usage: 541

יכול יכל 
Yakol 
Usage: 194

he contend
דּוּן דּין 
Diyn 
Usage: 24

with him that is mightier
תּקּיף 
Taqqiyph 
Usage: 1

References

Hastings

Context Readings

It Is Futile For Humans To Complain About God's Irresistible Will

9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering after the desire. This is also vanity and a striving after wind. 10 Whatever exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he cannot dispute with him who is stronger than he is. 11 Seeing there is much that increases futility, what outcome is there for man?

Cross References

Job 9:32

God is not a man, as I am: That I may answer him and we should go to court together.

Ecclesiastes 3:15

That which is has already been and that which is to be has already been. God seeks what has passed by.

Job 40:2

Will the person who finds fault with the Almighty correct him? Will the person who argues with God answer him?

Genesis 3:9

But Jehovah God called to the man: Where are 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 9:3-4

If one wished to argue with God, he could not answer or respond to him once in a thousand times.

Job 14:1-4

Man born of woman, lives a short life that is full of trouble.

Job 33:13

Why do you complain to him that he answers none of man's words?

Psalm 39:6

Every man walks about like a vain illusion. He makes a lot of noise over nothing. He hoards riches and does not know who will receive them.

Psalm 82:6-7

I said: You are god-like ones. You are all sons of the Most High. (John 1:1)

Psalm 103:15

Man's days are as grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

Ecclesiastes 1:9-11

That which has been is that which will be. That which has been done is that which will be done. There is nothing new under the sun!

Isaiah 45:9-10

Does a clay pot dare argue with its maker, a pot that is like all the others? Does the clay ask the potter what he is doing? Does the pot complain that its maker has no skill?

Jeremiah 49:19

Like a lion coming out of the thick woods along the Jordan River up to the green pastureland, I will come and make the Edomites run away suddenly from their country. Then the leader I choose will rule the nation. Who can be compared to me? Who would dare challenge me? What ruler could oppose me?

Romans 9:19-20

You say to me: Why does he yet find fault? Who resists his purpose (will)?

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain