Ecclesiastes 3:18 “I said to myself, “As for the sons of men, God tests them so that they…”

Ecclesiastes 3:18

I said to myself, “As for the sons of men, God tests them so that they may see for themselves that they are but beasts.”

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

World English Bible

I said in my heart, “As for the sons of men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals.

American Standard Version

I said in my heart, It is because of the sons of men, that God may prove them, and that they may see that they themselves are but as beasts.

Geneva Bible 1599

I considered in mine heart the state of the children of men that God had purged them: yet to see to, they are in themselues as beastes.

Darby Translation

I said in my heart, It is thus with the children of men, that God may prove them, and that they should see that they themselves are but beasts.

Young's Literal Translation

I said in my heart concerning the matter of the sons of man that God might cleanse them, so as to see that they themselves [are] beasts.

Bible in Basic English

I said in my heart, It is because of the sons of men, so that God may put them to the test and that they may see themselves as beasts.

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Cross references

“concerning”

Genesis 3:17–19 Hebrews 9:27 1 Peter 1:24 Job 14:1–4 Job 15:16 Psalm 49:14

Genesis 3:17–19 · BSB

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 day…

Hebrews 9:27 · BSB

Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment,

1 Peter 1:24 · BSB

For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,

Job 14:1–4 · BSB

“Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble.

Job 15:16 · BSB

how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks injustice like water?

Psalm 49:14 · BSB

Like sheep they are destined for Sheol. Death will be their shepherd. The upright will rule them in the morning, and their form will decay in Sheol, far from their lofty abode.

“that God, etc”

Romans 9:23 Job 40:8 Psalm 51:4 Romans 3:4

Romans 9:23 · BSB

What if He did this to make the riches of His glory known to the vessels of His mercy, whom He prepared in advance for glory—

Job 40:8 · BSB

Would you really annul My justice? Would you condemn Me to justify yourself?

Psalm 51:4 · BSB

Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be proved right when You speak and blameless when You judge.

Romans 3:4 · BSB

Certainly not! Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that You may be proved right when You speak and victorious when You judge.”

“and that”

Psalm 73:22 2 Peter 2:12

Psalm 73:22 · BSB

I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You.

2 Peter 2:12 · BSB

These men are like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be captured and destroyed. They blaspheme in matters they do not understand, and like such creatures, they too will be destroyed.

Also

Psalm 49:12

Psalm 49:12 · BSB

But a man, despite his wealth, cannot endure; he is like the beasts that perish.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

17I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked, since there is a time for every activity and every deed.”

19For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so dies the other—they all have the same breath. Man has no advantage over the animals, since everything is futile.

Read Ecclesiastes 3