Parallel Verses

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.

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.

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 of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind. 10 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. 11 For there are many words that create vanity. What does that profit man?


Cross References

Job 9:32

For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, that we should come together in judgment.

Ecclesiastes 3:15

That which is has been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago: and God seeks again that which is passed away.

Job 40:2

"Shall he who argues contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it."

Genesis 3:9

Yahweh God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are 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 9:3-4

If he is pleased to contend with him, he can't answer him one time in a thousand.

Job 14:1-4

"Man, who is born of a woman, is of few days, and full of trouble.

Job 33:13

Why do you strive against him, because he doesn't give account of any of his matters?

Psalm 39:6

"Surely every man walks like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up, and doesn't know who shall gather.

Psalm 82:6-7

I said, "You are gods, all of you are sons of the Most High.

Psalm 103:15

As for man, his days are like grass. As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

Ecclesiastes 1:9-11

That which has been is that which shall be; and that which has been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

Isaiah 45:9-10

Woe to him who strives with his Maker -- a clay pot among the clay pots of the earth! Shall the clay ask him who fashions it, 'What are you making?' or your work, 'He has no hands?'

Jeremiah 49:19

Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the pride of the Jordan against the strong habitation: for I will suddenly make them run away from it; and whoever is chosen, him will I appoint over it: for who is like me? and who will appoint me a time? and who is the shepherd who will stand before me?

Romans 9:19-20

You will say then to me, "Why does he still find fault? For who withstands his 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