Font Size
Ecclesiastes 3:19-22
New English Translation
Ecclesiastes 3:19-22
New English Translation
19 For the fate of humans[a] and the fate of animals are the same:
As one dies, so dies the other; both have the same breath.
There is no advantage for humans over animals,
for both are fleeting.
20 Both go to the same place,
both come from the dust,
and to dust both return.
21 Who really knows if the human spirit[b] ascends upward,
and the animal’s spirit descends into the earth?”
22 So I perceived there is nothing better than for people[c] to enjoy their work,[d]
because that is their[e] reward;
for who can show them what the future holds?[f]
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 3:19 tn Heb “of the sons of man.”
- Ecclesiastes 3:21 tn Heb “the spirit of the sons of man.”
- Ecclesiastes 3:22 tn Heb “man.”
- Ecclesiastes 3:22 tn Heb “his works.”
- Ecclesiastes 3:22 tn Heb “his.”
- Ecclesiastes 3:22 tn Heb “what will be after him” (cf. KJV, NASB, NIV) or “afterward” (cf. NJPS).
Ecclesiastes 3:19-22
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 3:19-22
New International Version
19 Surely the fate of human beings(A) 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. 20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.(B) 21 Who knows if the human spirit rises upward(C) and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”
22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work,(D) because that is their lot.(E) For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 3:19 Or spirit
Ecclesiastes 3:19-22
King James Version
Ecclesiastes 3:19-22
King James Version
19 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?
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?
Read full chapter
New English Translation (NET)
NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.