Parallel Verses

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.

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.

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 going of the soul. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit. 10 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. 11 For there are many things multiplying vanity; what advantage is to man?

Cross References

Job 9:32

But if a man like myself -- I answer him, We come together into judgment.

Ecclesiastes 3:15

What is that which hath been? already it is, and that which is to be hath already been, and God requireth that which is pursued.

Job 40:2

Is the striver with the Mighty instructed? The reprover of God, let him answer it.

Genesis 3:9

And Jehovah God calleth unto the man, and saith to him, 'Where art thou?'

Genesis 3:17-19

And to the man He said, 'Because thou hast hearkened to the voice of thy wife, and dost eat of the tree concerning which I have charged thee, saying, Thou dost not eat of it, cursed is the ground on thine account; in sorrow thou dost eat of it all days of thy life,

Job 9:3-4

If he delight to strive with Him -- He doth not answer him one of a thousand.

Job 14:1-4

Man, born of woman! Of few days, and full of trouble!

Job 33:13

Wherefore against Him hast thou striven, When for all His matters He answereth not?

Psalm 39:6

Only, in an image doth each walk habitually, Only, in vain, they are disquieted, He heapeth up and knoweth not who gathereth them.

Psalm 82:6-7

I -- I have said, 'Gods ye are, And sons of the Most High -- all of you,

Psalm 103:15

Mortal man! as grass are his days, As a flower of the field so he flourisheth;

Ecclesiastes 1:9-11

What is that which hath been? it is that which is, and what is that which hath been done? it is that which is done, and there is not an entirely new thing under the sun.

Isaiah 45:9-10

Woe to him who is striving with his Former, (A potsherd with potsherds of the ground!) Doth clay say to its Framer, 'What dost thou?' And thy work, 'He hath no hands?'

Jeremiah 49:19

Lo, as a lion he cometh up, Because of the rising of the Jordan, Unto the enduring habitation, But I cause to rest, I cause him to run from off her, And who is chosen? concerning her I lay a charge, For who is like Me? and who conveneth Me? And who is this shepherd who standeth before Me?

Romans 9:19-20

Thou wilt say, then, to me, 'Why yet doth He find fault? for His counsel who hath resisted?'

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