Ecclesiastes 3:19
17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
18 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.
For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so dies the other—they all have the same breath. Man has no advantage over the animals, since everything is futile.
- KJV
- For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
- WEB
- For that which happens to the sons of men happens to animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the other dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage over the animals, for all is vanity.
- ASV
- For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; and man hath no preeminence above the beasts: for all is vanity.
- DARBY
- For what befalleth the children of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other, and they have all one breath; and man hath no pre-eminence above the beast: for all is vanity.
- BLB
- For an event [is to] the sons of man, and an event [is to] the beasts, one [is] and an event for them: As the death of this one, so [is] the death of this one; and one breath [is] to all, and the advantage of the man over the beast [is] nothing—for all [is] vapor.
- ÅB
- for det går menneskenes barn som det går dyrene; den samme skjebne rammer dem; som den ene dør, så dør den andre, og en livsånde har de alle; mennesket har ikke noe fortrinn fremfor dyret; for alt er tomhet.
- OTB
- For menneskenes skjebne og dyrenes skjebne er den samme: Som den ene dør, dør også den andre. De har alle den samme ånd; menneskene har ingen fordel fremfor dyrene. Alt er meningsløst.
- B1930
- for det går menneskenes barn som det går dyrene; den samme skjebne rammer dem; som den ene dør, så dør den andre, og en livsånde har de alle; mennesket har ikke noget fortrin fremfor dyret; for alt er tomhet.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Psalms 49:12
Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
Read in contextPsalms 49:20
Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
Read in contextJob 14:10–12
But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?
Read in contextEcclesiastes 2:14
The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.
Read in contextPsalms 89:47–48
Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?
Read in contextEcclesiastes 2:20–23
Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.
Read in contextPsalms 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.
Read in contextPsalms 104:29
Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
Read in context