Ecclesiastes 6:12 - Revised Version with Apocrypha 1895

¹² 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?

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

¹² 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?

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

¹² 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?

American Standard Version (1901)

¹² 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?

Common English Bible

¹² Because who knows what’s good for human beings during life, during their brief pointless life, which will pass away like a shadow? Who can say what the future holds for people under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 6:12 Cross References

1 Chronicles 29:15

For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as all our fathers were: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is no abiding.

Job 14:2

He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

Job 14:21

His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; And they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.

Job 8:9

(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, Because our days upon earth are a shadow:)

Psalm 102:11

My days are like a shadow that declineth; And I am withered like grass.

Psalm 109:23

I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust.

Psalm 144:4

Man is like to vanity: His days are as a shadow that passeth away.

Psalm 16:5

The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: Thou maintainest my lot.

Psalm 17:15

As for me, I shall behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Psalm 4:6

Many there be that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

Psalm 47:4

He shall choose our inheritance for us, The excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah

Psalm 89:47

O remember how short my time is: For what vanity hast thou created all the children of men!

Ecclesiastes 10:14

A fool also multiplieth words: yet man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?

Ecclesiastes 12:13

This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard: fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.

Ecclesiastes 2:24

There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.

Ecclesiastes 2:3

I searched in mine heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, mine heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.

Ecclesiastes 3:22

Wherefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him back to see what shall be after him?

Ecclesiastes 6:11

Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?

Ecclesiastes 7:15

All this have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his evil-doing.

Ecclesiastes 8:13

but it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.

Ecclesiastes 8:7

for he knoweth not that which shall be; for who can tell him how it shall be?

Ecclesiastes 9:6

As well their love, as their hatred and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 9:9

Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in life, and in thy labour wherein thou labourest under the sun.

Micah 6:8

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

James 4:14

whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. What is your life? For ye are a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.