Ecclesiastes 6:12
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?
Ecclesiastes 6:12 in other translations
| BSB | For who knows what is good for a man during the few days in which he passes through his fleeting life like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will come after him under the sun? |
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| WEB | For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spends like a shadow? For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun? |
| ASV | For who knoweth what is good for man in his 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? |
| YLT | For who knoweth what is good for a man in life, the number of the days of the life of his vanity, and he maketh them as a shadow? for who declareth to man what is after him under the sun? |
| DARBY | For who knoweth what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell man what shall be after him under the sun? |
| BBE | Who is able to say what is good for man in life all the days of his foolish life which he goes through like a shade? who will say what is to be after him under the sun? |
| Webster | 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? |
What does Ecclesiastes 6:12 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ecclesiastes 6:7-12
A little will serve to sustain us comfortably, and a great deal can do no more. The desires of the soul find nothing in the wealth of the world to give satisfaction. The poor man has comfort as well as the richest, and is under no real disadvantage. We cannot say, Better is the sight of the eyes than the resting of the soul in God; for it is better to live by faith in things to come, than to live by sense, which…
Ecclesiastes 6:12 in the original Hebrew
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Cross references for Ecclesiastes 6:12
- James 4:14
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
- Job 14:2
He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
- Ecclesiastes 3:22
Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?
- Psalms 144:4
Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.
- Lamentations 3:24-27
The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.
- Psalms 39:5-6
Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
- Ecclesiastes 8:7
For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?
- Job 8:9
(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)
- Ecclesiastes 8:13
But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.
- 1 Chronicles 29:15
For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.
- Ecclesiastes 12:13
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
- Psalms 17:15
As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2:3; 12:13; Ps 4:6; 16:5; 17:15; 47:4; La 3:24-27; Mic 6:8
the days of his vain life. Heb. the number of the days ofthe life of his vanity.
8:13; 9:6; 1Ch 29:15; Job 8:9; 14:2; Ps 39:5,6; 89:47; 90:10-12
Ps 102:11; 109:23; 144:4; Jas 4:14
for who can.
3:22; 8:7; Job 14:21
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Ecclesiastes 6:11
Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
- Ecclesiastes 6:12
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?
Ecclesiastes 6:12 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Porque ¿quién sabe cuál es el bien del hombre en la vida, todos los días de la vida de su vanidad, los cuales él pasa como sombra? Porque ¿quién enseñará al hombre qué será después de él debajo del sol? |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Car qui sait ce qui est bon pour l’homme dans la vie, tous les jours de la vie de sa vanité, qu’il passe comme une ombre? Et qui déclarera à l’homme ce qui sera après lui sous le soleil? |