Ecclesiastes 3:18
Modern Translations
New International Version
I also said to myself, "As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals.

New Living Translation
I also thought about the human condition—how God proves to people that they are like animals.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Study Bible
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.”

New American Standard Bible
I said to myself regarding the sons of mankind, “God is testing them in order for them to see that they are as animals, they to themselves.”

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."

NASB 1977
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.”

Amplified Bible
I said to myself regarding the sons of men, “God is surely testing them in order for them to see that [by themselves, without God] they are [only] animals.”

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.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
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."

Contemporary English Version
I know God is testing us to show us that we are merely animals.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I thought to myself, "God is going to test humans in order to show them that they are [like] animals."

International Standard Version
"As for human beings," I told myself, "God puts them to the test, that they might see themselves as mere animals."

NET Bible
I also thought to myself, "It is for the sake of people, so God can clearly show them that they are like animals.
Classic Translations
King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
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.”

King James 2000 Bible
I said in my heart concerning the condition of the sons of men, that God might reveal them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

New Heart 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.

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

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.

A Faithful Version
I said in my heart, "Concerning the matter of the sons of men, may God reveal to them, that they might see, that they themselves are but beasts."

Darby Bible 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.

English Revised Version
I said in mine 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.

Webster's Bible Translation
I said in my heart concerning the state of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

Early Modern
Geneva Bible of 1587
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.

Bishops' Bible of 1568
I communed with myne owne heart also concernyng the children of men, howe God hath chosen them, and yet letteth them appeare as though they were beastes.

Coverdale Bible of 1535
I comoned wt myne owne herte also cocernynge the childre of men: how God hath chosen them, and yet letteth the apeare, as though they were beastes:
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
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.

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.

Smith's Literal Translation
I said in my heart concerning the speeches of the sons of man, for God to separate them, and for them to see that they are cattle to themselves.

Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
I said in my heart concerning the sons of men, that God would prove them, and shew them to be like beasts.

Catholic Public Domain Version
I said in my heart, about the sons of men, that God would test them, and reveal them to be like wild animals.

Translations from Aramaic
Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
I spoke in my heart about the speech of the children men whom God created , and to show that they are as beasts

Lamsa Bible
I meditated in my heart concerning the estate of the sons of men whom God had created, and saw that they are like beasts.

OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
I said in my heart: 'It is because of the sons of men, that God may sift them, and that they may see that they themselves are but as beasts.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I said in my heart, concerning the speech of the sons of man, God will judge them, and that to shew that they are breasts.
















Ecclesiastes 3:17
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