Ecclesiastes 6:12
For who knoweth what is good for a man throughout his life, for the number of the days of his life of vanity, seeing he will make them, like a shadow,—for who can tell a man, what shall be after him, under the sun?
The Emphasised Bible by J. B. Rotherham
In The King James Version
In Context
11Seeing there are things in abundance which make vanity abound, what profit hath man?
Cross References
Job 8:9For, of yesterday, are, we, and cannot know, for, a shadow, are our days upon earth:
Job 14:21His sons, come to honour, and he knoweth it not, Or they are brought low, and he perceiveth it not of them.
Psalms 16:5Yahweh, is mine allotted portion and my cup, Thou, art maintaining my lot.
Psalms 39:5Lo! as hand-breadths, hast thou granted my days, and my life-time, is as nothing before thee,—Surely, a mere breath, are all men, [even] such as stand firm. [Selah.]
Psalms 89:47Remember how short-lived, I, am, Wherefore, in vain, hast thou created all the sons of Adam?
Psalms 102:11My days, are like a shadow extended, And, I, as green herbage, do wither.
Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 6:12
The Insatiableness of Desire. 11 Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? 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? Here, 1. Solomon lays down his conclusion which he had undertaken to prove, as that which was fully confirmed by the foregoing discourse: There be many things that increase vanity; the life of man is vain, at the best, and there are… Read the whole commentary →