Ecclesiastes 3:18 Parallel Translations

I thought to myself, "God is going to test humans in order to show them that they are like animals."(GOD'S WORD®)

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.

ASV:

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.

BBE:

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.

DBY:

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.

ERV:

I said in mine 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.

JPS:

I said in my heart: 'It is because of the sons of men, that God may sift them, and that they may see that they themselves are but as beasts.'

WBS:

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.

WEB:

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.

YLT:

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.

Ecclesiastes 3:18 Cross References

XREF:

Psalm 49:12 But man in his pomp will not endure; He is like the beasts that perish.

Psalm 49:20 Man in his pomp, yet without understanding, Is like the beasts that perish.

Psalm 73:22 Then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. (NASB ©1995)

Commentaries and Concordances

GSB:

3:18 I said in my heart concerning the state of the sons of men, that God might {h} tempt them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
(h) And made them pure in their first creation.

WES:

3:18 I said - And further I considered concerning their condition in this present world. That God - God suffers these disorders among men, that he might discover men to themselves, and shew what strange creatures they are, and what vile hearts they have. Beasts - That altho' God made them men, yet they have made themselves beasts by their brutish practices, and that, considered only with respect to the present life, they are as vain and miserable creatures as the beasts themselves.

MHC:

3:16-22 Without the fear of the Lord, man is but vanity; set that aside, and judges will not use their power well. And there is another Judge that stands before the door. With God there is a time for the redressing of grievances, though as yet we see it not. Solomon seems to express his wish that men might perceive, that by choosing this world as their portion, they brought themselves to a level with the beasts, without being free, as they are, from present vexations and a future account. Both return to the dust from whence they were taken. What little reason have we to be proud of our bodies, or bodily accomplishments! But as none can fully comprehend, so few consider properly, the difference between the rational soul of man, and the spirit or life of the beast. The spirit of man goes upward, to be judged, and is then fixed in an unchangeable state of happiness or misery. It is as certain that the spirit of the beast goes downward to the earth; it perishes at death. Surely their case is lamentable, the height of whose hopes and wishes is, that they may die like beasts. Let our inquiry be, how an eternity of existence may be to us an eternity of enjoyment? To answer this, is the grand design of revelation. Jesus is revealed as the Son of God, and the Hope of sinners.

CONC:

Animals Beasts Cleanse Estate Heart Manifest Matter Myself Order Prove Regard Sift Sons State Surely Test Tested Testing Tests Themselves Thus

Animals Beasts Children Cleanse Estate Heart Manifest Order Regard Show Sift State Surely Test Tested Testing Tests Themselves Thought

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GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved.

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