Ecclesiastes 3:18

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 beasts.

A Conservative Version

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

17I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous man and the wicked man, for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

19For that which befalls the sons of men befalls beasts, even one thing befalls them; as the one dies, so dies the other. Yea, they all have one breath, and man has no preeminence above the beasts; for all is vanity.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 3

Cross References

Job 14:1Man, who is born of a woman, is of few days, and full of trouble.

Job 40:8Will thou even annul my judgment? Will thou condemn me, that thou may be justified?

Psalms 49:14They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd, and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. And their beauty shall be for Sheol to consume, that there be no habitation for it.

Psalms 51:4Against thee, thee only, I have sinned, and done that which is evil in thy sight, that thou may be justified when thou speak, and may prevail (LXX/NT) when thou are criticized (LXX/NT).

Psalms 73:22So I was brutish, and ignorant. I was a beast before thee.

Romans 3:4May it not happen! But let it come to pass God is true, but every man a liar, as it is written, That thou may ever be justified in thy words, and may prevail when thou are criticized.

Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 3:17-22

Immutability of God's Counsel; The Extent of Mortality. 16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. 17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work. 18 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. 19 For that which befalleth the… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Ecclesiastes 3:18