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?
KJV
Parallel translations
4 additional translations▾
Parallel translations
4 additional translationsFor 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?
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?
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?
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?
About this book
Old Testament▾
About this book
Old TestamentEcclesiastes — Qohelet the Preacher — ''vanity of vanities, all is vanity.'' The book's relentless examination of life under the sun, resolving not in despair but in ''fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.''
- Author
- Traditional: Solomon (''son of David, king in Jerusalem''). Critical: a later Qohelet figure writing in Solomonic persona. §7.9 surfaces; Pastor Marc's drawer carries the position.
- Date
- Solomonic reading: c. 940 BC. Critical reading: Persian or early Hellenistic period (5th–3rd century BC).