Ecclesiastes 6:12
10 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?
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
- 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?
- KJV
- 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?
- 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?
- 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?
- BLB
- For who knows what [is] good for man in life all the days of the life of his vapor, and he makes them like a shadow? For who can declare to man what will come to be after him under the sun?
- ÅB
- For hvem vet hva som gagner et menneske i livet, i alle hans tomme levedager, dem han tilbringer som en skygge? For hvem kan si et menneske hva som skal hende under solen etter hans tid?
[^1]: JBS 30, 23.
[^2]: av Gud. - OTB
- For hvem vet hva som er godt for en person i livet, i løpet av de få og fåfengte dager de går som en skygge? Hvem kan fortelle dem hva som vil skje under solen etter at de er borte?
- B1930
- For hvem vet hvad som gagner et menneske i livet, i alle hans tomme levedager, dem han tilbringer som en skygge? For hvem kan si et menneske hvad som skal hende under solen efter hans tid?
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
James 4:14
You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
Read in contextJob 14:2
Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 3:22
I have seen that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will come after him?
Read in contextPsalms 144:4
Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.
Read in contextLamentations 3:24–27
“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in Him.”
Read in contextPsalms 39:5–6
You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath. Selah
Read in contextEcclesiastes 8:7
Since no one knows what will happen, who can tell him what is to come?
Read in contextJob 8:9
For we were born yesterday and know nothing; our days on earth are but a shadow.
Read in context