Ecclesiastes 6:12 — Compare All Translations

English (YLT) 1898 Young's Literal Translation by Robert Young

For who knoweth what [is] good for a man in life, the number of the days of the life of his vanity, and he maketh them as a shadow? for who declareth to man what is after him under the sun?

English ASV

For who knoweth what is good for man in his life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

English Amplified

For who [limited to human wisdom] knows what is good for man in his life, all the days of his vain life which he spends as a shadow [going through the motions but accomplishing nothing]? For who can tell a man what will happen [to his work, his treasure, his plans] under the sun after he is gone?

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

For who [limited to human wisdom] knows what is good for man in his life, all the days of his vain life which he spends as a shadow [going through the motions but accomplishing nothing]? For who can tell a man what will happen [to his work, his treasure, his plans] under the sun after he is gone?

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

For who knows what is good for a man during the few days in which he passes through his fleeting life like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will come after him under the sun?

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

For who knows what is good for anyone in life, in the few days of his futile life that he spends like a shadow? Who can tell anyone what will happen after him under the sun?

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

For who knoweth what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell man what shall be after him under the sun?

English EASY 2024

Nobody knows the best way for us to live our lives. We live for only a few years and our lives seem to have no purpose. Our lives quickly disappear, like a shadow. Nobody can tell us what will happen on the earth after our death.

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

Who knows what is best for people during their short life on earth? Their life passes like a shadow. No one can tell them what will happen later.

For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?

English GNT (Good News Translation)

How can anyone know what is best for us in this short, useless life of ours—a life that passes like a shadow? How can we know what will happen in the world after we die?

English God's Word - GW 1995

Who knows what may be good for mortals while they are alive, during the brief, pointless days they live? Mortals pass by like a shadow. Who will tell them about their future under the sun?

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

For who knows what is good for man in life, in the few days of his futile life that he spends like a shadow? Who can tell man what will happen after him under the sun?

English KJV 1611

For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

English LSB

For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few days of his vain life? He will make do with them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

For who knows what is good for a person in life during the number of the days of his vain life, which pass like a shadow? For who can declare to a person what will occur after him under the sun?

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep.

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

For who knows what is good for a man in life, the limited days of his vain life (which God has made like a shadow)? Because-- who is there to tell a man what will come after him under the sun?

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

For no one knows what is best for a person during his life — during the few days of his fleeting life — for they pass away like a shadow. Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth.

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

Who knows what's good for a man? He lives for only a few meaningless days. He passes through life like a shadow. Who can tell him what will happen on earth after he is gone?

English NIV

For who knows what is good for a man in life, during the few and meaningless days he passes through like a shadow? Who can tell him what will happen under the sun after he is gone?

English NKJ 1982

For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun?

English NLT

In the few days of our empty lives, who knows how our days can best be spent? And who can tell what will happen in the future after we are gone?

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

For who knows what is good for mortals while they live the few days of their vain life, which they pass like a shadow? For who can tell them what will be after them under the sun?

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

In these few days of our empty lifetimes, who can say how one's days can best be spent? Who can know what will prove best for the future after he is gone? For who knows the future?

English Tyndale 1537

For who knoweth what is good for man living, in the days of his vain life, which is but a shadow? Or, who will tell a man, what shall happen after him under the Son?

Ecclesiastes 6:12 — Compare Translations