Ecclesiastes 6:10
8 What advantage, then, has the wise man over the fool? What gain comes to the poor man who knows how to conduct himself before others?
9 Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
Whatever exists was named long ago, and what happens to a man is foreknown; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he.
11 For the more words, the more futility—and how does that profit anyone?
12 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?
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Whatever exists was named long ago, and what happens to a man is foreknown; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he.
- KJV
- That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.
- WEB
- Whatever has been, its name was given long ago; and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who is mightier than he.
- ASV
- Whatsoever hath been, the name thereof was given long ago; and it is know what man is; neither can he contend with him that is mightier than he.
- DARBY
- That which is hath already been named; and what man is, is known, and that he cannot contend with him that is mightier than he.
- BLB
- That which has come to be, already its name has been called; and it is known that he [is] man, and he is not able to contend with one stronger than he.
- ÅB
- Hva der er blitt til, er for lenge siden nevnt med navn[^2], og det er kjent hva et menneske skal bli; han kan ikke gå i rette med den som er sterkere enn han;
- OTB
- Hva enn som eksisterer har allerede blitt navngitt, og hva mennesket er har vært kjent; ingen kan stride mot den som er mektigere.
- B1930
- Hvad der er blitt til, er for lenge siden nevnt med navn, og det er kjent hvad et menneske skal bli; han kan ikke gå i rette med den som er sterkere enn han; / < av Gud.>
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Job 9:32
For He is not a man like me, that I can answer Him, that we can take each other to court.
Read in contextIsaiah 45:9–10
Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker— one clay pot among many. Does the clay ask the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘He has no hands’?
Read in contextJob 40:2
“Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who argues with God give an answer.”
Read in contextRomans 9:19–20
One of you will say to me, “Then why does God still find fault? For who can resist His will?”
Read in contextGenesis 3:17–19
And 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 days of your life.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 3:15
What exists has already been, and what will be has already been, for God will call to account what has passed.
Read in contextJeremiah 49:19
Behold, one will come up like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan to the watered pasture. For in an instant I will chase Edom from her land. Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this? For who is like Me, and who can challenge Me? What shepherd can stand against Me?”
Read in contextJob 33:13
Why do you complain to Him that He answers nothing a man asks?
Read in context