Ecclesiastes 3:18 — Compare Translations

27 translations compared side by side

I said in my heart regarding the subject of the sons of men, God is trying (separating and sifting) them, that they may see that by themselves [under the sun, without God] they are but like beasts.

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

I said in my heart regarding the subject of the sons of men, God is trying (separating and sifting) them, that they may see that by themselves [under the sun, without God] they are but like beasts.

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

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.”

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

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.”

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

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.

English EASY 2024

I also thought, ‘God wants people to know that they are like animals. That is why he tests us.

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

I thought about what people do to each other. And I said to myself, "God wants people to see that they are like animals.

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 beasts.

English GNT (Good News Translation)

I decided that God is testing us, to show us that we are no better than animals.

English God's Word - GW 1995

I thought to myself, "God is going to test humans in order to show them that they are {like} animals."

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

I said to myself, "This happens concerning people, so that God may test them and they may see for themselves that they are like animals."

English KJV 1611

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.

English LSB

I said in my heart concerning the sons of men, “God is testing them in order for them to see that they are but beasts.”

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

Then I thought in my heart, “Regarding the account of people, God is testing them to show that they are but animals.

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

I said to myself concerning the sons of men, "God has surely tested them in order for them to see that they are but beasts."

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

I said to myself: As for the children of men, it is God's way of testing them and of showing that they are in themselves like beasts.

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

I also thought to myself, “It is for the sake of people, so God can clearly show them that they are like animals.

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

I also thought, "God puts human beings to the test. Then they can see they are just like animals.

English NIV

I also thought, "As for men, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals.

English NKJ 1982

I said in my heart, “Concerning the condition of the sons of men, God tests them, that they may see that they themselves are like animals.”

English NLT

Then I realized that God allows people to continue in their sinful ways so he can test them. That way, they can see for themselves that they are no better than animals.

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

I said in my heart with regard to human beings that God is testing them to show that they are but animals.

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

I said in my heart with regard to the sons of men that God is testing them to show them that they are but beasts.

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

And then I realized that God is letting the world go on its sinful way so that he can test mankind, and so that men themselves will see that they are no better than beasts.

English Tyndale 1537

I communed(comoned) with mine own heart also concerning the children of men: how God hath chosen them, and yet letteth them appear as though they were beasts: