Ecclesiastes 3:18-22
English Standard Version
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 (A)beasts. 19 (B)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] 20 All go to one place. All are from (C)the dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows whether (D)the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth? 22 So I saw that there is (E)nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for (F)that is his lot. Who can bring him to see (G)what will be after him?
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- Ecclesiastes 3:19 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)
Ecclesiastes 3:18-22
Christian Standard Bible
18 I said to myself, “This happens so that God may test the children of Adam and they may see for themselves that they are like animals.”(A) 19 For the fate of the children of Adam and the fate of animals is the same.(B) As one dies, so dies the other; they all have the same breath. People have no advantage over animals since everything is futile. 20 All are going to the same place; all come from dust, and all return to dust.(C) 21 Who knows if the spirits of the children of Adam go upward and the spirits of animals go downward to the earth? 22 I have seen that there is nothing better than for a person to enjoy his activities(D) because that is his reward. For who can enable him to see what will happen after he dies?[a](E)
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- 3:22 Lit after him
Ecclesiastes 3:18-22
Evangelical Heritage Version
18 So I said in my heart, “This is done so that God can test the children of Adam, so that they can see what animals they are if left to themselves.”[a] 19 For the outcome[b] for the children of Adam and the outcome for animals is the same. One dies just like the other. All have the same breath. Mankind has no advantage over animals, because everything is vapor. 20 All go to the same place. All were from the dust, and to the dust all return. 21 Who knows whether the spirit[c] of the man goes upward, and the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?
22 So I saw that there is nothing better for man than to be happy in his activities, since that is his reward.[d] For who will show him what there will be after him?
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- Ecclesiastes 3:18 There is considerable difference of opinion about the meaning of this verse.
- Ecclesiastes 3:19 Or destination
- Ecclesiastes 3:21 Or breath
- Ecclesiastes 3:22 Or lot
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