Ecclesiastes 6:12

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Summary

For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

Who knoweth

The days of his vain life

For who can

Ecclesiastes 3:22

Ecclesiastes 8:7

Job 14:21

General references

Ecclesiastes 12:8

Bible References

Who knoweth

I explored with my mind how to gratify myself with wine while [at the same time] having my mind remain steady and guide me wisely; and how to take control of foolishness, until I could see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.

When all has been heard, the end of the matter is: fear God [worship Him with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is almighty God] and keep His commandments, for this applies to every person.

Many are saying, “Oh, that we might see some good!”
Lift up the light of Your face upon us, O Lord.

The Lord is the portion of my inheritance, my cup [He is all I need];
You support my lot.

As for me, I shall see Your face in righteousness;
I will be [fully] satisfied when I awake [to find myself] seeing Your likeness.

He chooses our inheritance for us,
The glory and excellence of Jacob whom He loves. Selah.

“The Lord is my portion and my inheritance,” says my soul;
“Therefore I have hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him.”

He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
Except to be just, and to love [and to diligently practice] kindness (compassion),
And to walk humbly with your God [setting aside any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness]?

The days of his vain life

But it will not be well for the evil man, nor will he lengthen his days like a shadow, because he does not fear God.

Indeed their love, their hatred and their zeal have already perished, and they will no longer have a share [in this age] in anything that is done under the sun.

For we are sojourners before You, and tenants, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope [of remaining].

“For we are only of yesterday and know nothing,
Because our days on earth are [like] a shadow [just a breath or a vapor].

“Like a flower he comes forth and withers;
He also flees like a shadow and does not remain.

“Behold, You have made my days as [short as] hand widths,
And my lifetime is as nothing in Your sight.
Surely every man at his best is a mere breath [a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes]! Selah.

Remember how fleeting my lifetime is;
For what vanity, [for what emptiness, for what futility, for what wisp of smoke] You have created all the sons of men!

The days of our life are seventy years—
Or even, if because of strength, eighty years;
Yet their pride [in additional years] is only labor and sorrow,
For it is soon gone and we fly away.

My days are like an evening shadow that lengthens and vanishes [with the sun];
And as for me, I wither away like grass.

I am vanishing like a shadow when it lengthens and fades;
I am shaken off like the locust.

Man is like a mere breath;
His days are like a shadow that passes away.

Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what may happen in your life tomorrow. [What is secure in your life?] You are merely a vapor [like a puff of smoke or a wisp of steam from a cooking pot] that is visible for a little while and then vanishes [into thin air].

For who can

So I have seen that there is nothing better than that a man should be happy in his own works and activities, for that is his portion (share). For who will bring him [back] to see what will happen after he is gone?

For no one knows what will happen;
So who can tell him how and when it will happen?

“His sons achieve honor, and he does not know it;
They become insignificant, and he is not aware of it.

General references

“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity (futility).”