Ecclesiastes 6:12
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?
Young's Literal Translation
In The King James Version
In Context
11For there are many things multiplying vanity; what advantage [is] to man?
Cross References
Job 8:9(For of yesterday we [are], and we know not, For a shadow [are] our days on earth.)
Job 14:21Honoured are his sons, and he knoweth not; And they are little, and he attendeth not to them.
Psalms 16:5Jehovah [is] the portion of my share, and of my cup, Thou — Thou dost uphold my lot.
Psalms 39:5Lo, handbreadths Thou hast made my days, And mine age [is] as nothing before Thee, Only, all vanity [is] every man set up. Selah.
Psalms 89:47Remember, I pray Thee, what [is] life-time? Wherefore in vain hast Thou created All the sons of men?
Psalms 102:11My days as a shadow [are] stretched out, And I — as the herb I am withered.
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 →