Ecclesiastes 3:18

In 11 translations

BSB

I said to myself, “As for the sons of men, God tests them so that they may see for themselves that they are but beasts.”

KJV

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.that God…: or, that they might clear God, and see, etc

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.

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.

LSV

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.

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.

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.Elohim

DRC

I said in my heart concerning the sons of men, that God would prove them, and shew them to be like beasts.

GNV

I considered in mine heart the state of the children of men that God had purged them: yet to see to, they are in themselues as beastes.

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.'

LXXE

I said in my heart, concerning the speech of the sons of man, God will judge them, and that to shew that they are beasts.

Word by word Hebrew · tap a word

Words in brackets are English the glossers added; the Hebrew has no word for them, and they can carry a choice of tense or meaning.

Original-language editions

WLC

אָמַ֤רְתִּֽי אֲנִי֙ בְּלִבִּ֔י עַל־דִּבְרַת֙ בְּנֵ֣י הָאָדָ֔ם לְבָרָ֖ם הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְלִרְא֕וֹת שְׁהֶם־בְּהֵמָ֥ה הֵ֖מָּה לָהֶֽם׃

LXX-Br

Εἶπα ἐγὼ ἐν καρδίᾳ μου, περὶ λαλιᾶς υἱῶν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, ὅτι διακρινεῖ αὐτοὺς ὁ Θεὸς, καὶ τοῦ δεῖξαι ὅτι αὐτοὶ κτήνη εἰσί.

Who and where

People, places and events the Theographic dataset links to this verse.

In the reference works topics that cite this verse

From public-domain Bible dictionaries and topical indexes (1884–1915).

Cross-references most cited first

• Psalms 73:22I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You.
• Psalms 49:12But a man, despite his wealth, cannot endure; he is like the beasts that perish.
• Genesis 3:17–19And to Adam He said: “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat, cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the…
• 2 Peter 2:12These men are like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be captured and destroyed. They blaspheme in matters they do not understand, and like such creatures, they too will be destroyed.
• Hebrews 9:27Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment,
• Romans 9:23What if He did this to make the riches of His glory known to the vessels of His mercy, whom He prepared in advance for glory—
• 1 Peter 1:24For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,
• Psalms 49:19–20he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light of day. A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.
• Psalms 49:14Like sheep they are destined for Sheol. Death will be their shepherd. The upright will rule them in the morning, and their form will decay in Sheol, far from their lofty abode.
• Psalms 51:4Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be proved right when You speak and blameless when You judge.
• Job 14:1–4“Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble. Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure. Do You open Your eyes to one like this? Will You bring him…
• Romans 3:4Certainly not! Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that You may be proved right when You speak and victorious when You judge.”
• Job 40:8Would you really annul My justice? Would you condemn Me to justify yourself?
• Psalms 73:18–19Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin. How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!
• Psalms 90:5–12You whisk them away in their sleep; they are like the new grass of the morning— in the morning it springs up new, but by evening it fades and withers. For we are consumed by Your anger and terrified by Your wrath. You…
• Job 15:16how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks injustice like water?

From the OpenBible.info cross-reference set (votes from readers; not every link is a quotation or allusion).