Ecclesiastes 3:16-19
English Standard Version
From Dust to Dust
16 Moreover, (A)I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even (B)there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness. 17 I said in my heart, (C)God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is (D)a time for every matter and for every work. 18 I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but (E)beasts. 19 (F)For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity.[a]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ecclesiastes 3:19 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)
Ecclesiastes 3:16-19
New International Version
16 And I saw something else under the sun:
In the place of judgment—wickedness was there,
in the place of justice—wickedness was there.
17 I said to myself,
“God will bring into judgment(A)
both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
a time to judge every deed.”(B)
18 I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals.(C) 19 Surely the fate of human beings(D) is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath[a]; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 3:19 Or spirit
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