Ecclesiastes 6 – Compare Chapter Translations

Verse-by-verse comparison of Ecclesiastes 6 across supported Bible translations.

Verse 1

KJV There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:

ASV There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy upon men:

WEB There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy on men:

YLT There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it <FI>is<Fi> great on man:

DRB There is also another evil, which I have seen under the sun, and that frequent among men:

DBY There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it is frequent among men:

GNV There is an euill, which I sawe vnder the sunne, and it is much among men:

LSB There is an evil which I have seen under the sun and it is prevalent among men—

Verse 2

KJV A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

ASV a man to whom God giveth riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacketh nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but an alien eateth it; this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

WEB a man to whom God gives riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God gives him no power to eat of it, but an alien eats it. This is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

YLT A man to whom God giveth wealth, and riches, and honour, and there is no lack to his soul of all that he desireth, and God giveth him not power to eat of it, but a stranger eateth it; this <FI>is<Fi> vanity, and it <FI>is<Fi> an evil disease.

DRB A man to whom God hath given riches, and substance, and honour, and his soul wanteth nothing of all that he desireth: yet God doth not give him power to eat thereof, but a stranger shall eat it up. This is vanity and a great misery.

DBY one to whom God giveth riches, wealth, and honour, and he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and a sore evil.

GNV A man to whom God hath giuen riches and treasures and honour, and he wanteth nothing for his soule of all that it desireth: but God giueth him not power to eate thereof, but a strange man shall eate it vp: this is vanitie, and this is an euill sicknesse.

LSB a man to whom God gives riches and wealth and honor so that his soul lacks nothing of all that he desires; yet God does not empower him to eat from them, for a foreigner eats from them. This is vanity and a sickening evil.

Verse 3

KJV If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.

ASV If a man beget a hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul be not filled with good, and moreover he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he:

WEB If a man fathers a hundred children, and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not filled with good, and moreover he has no burial; I say, that a stillborn child is better than he:

YLT If a man doth beget a hundred, and live many years, and is great, because they are the days of his years, and his soul is not satisfied from the goodness, and also he hath not had a grave, I have said, `Better than he <FI>is<Fi> the untimely birth.'

DRB If a man beget a hundred children, and live many years, and attain to a great age, and his soul make no use of the goods of his substance, and he be without burial: of this man I pronounce, that the untimely born is better than he.

DBY If a man beget a hundred [sons], and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, but his soul be not filled with good, and also he have no burial, I say an untimely birth is better than he.

GNV If a man beget an hundreth children and liue many yeeres, and the dayes of his yeeres be multiplied, and his soule be not satisfied with good things, and he be not buried, I say that an vntimely fruite is better then he.

LSB If a man becomes the father of one hundred children and lives many years, however many the days of his years may be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things, and he does not even have a proper burial, then I say, “Better the miscarriage than he,

Verse 4

KJV For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.

ASV for it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and the name thereof is covered with darkness;

WEB for it comes in vanity, and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness.

YLT For in vanity he came in, and in darkness he goeth, and in darkness his name is covered,

DRB For he came in vain, and goeth to darkness, and his name shall be wholly forgotten.

DBY For it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness;

GNV For he commeth into vanitie and goeth into darkenesse: and his name shall be couered with darkenesse.

LSB for that one comes in vanity and goes into darkness; and that one’s name is covered in darkness.

Verse 5

KJV Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.

ASV moreover it hath not seen the sun nor known it; this hath rest rather than the other:

WEB Moreover it has not seen the sun nor known it. This has rest rather than the other.

YLT Even the sun he hath not seen nor known, more rest hath this than that.

DRB He hath not seen the sun, nor known the distance of good and evil:

DBY moreover it hath not seen nor known the sun: this hath rest rather than the other.

GNV Also he hath not seene ye sunne, nor knowen it: therefore this hath more rest then the other.

LSB Indeed, that one never sees the sun and never knows anything; that one has more rest than he.

Verse 6

KJV Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?

ASV yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet enjoy no good, do not all go to one place?

WEB Yes, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet fails to enjoy good, don’t all go to one place?

YLT And though he had lived a thousand years twice over, yet good he hath not seen; to the same place doth not every one go?

DRB Although he lived two thousand years, and hath not enjoyed good things: do not all make haste to one place?

DBY Yea, though he live twice a thousand years, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?

GNV And if he had liued a thousand yeeres twise tolde, and had seene no good, shall not all goe to one place?

LSB Even if the other man lives one thousand years twice and does not see good things—do not all go to the same place?”

Verse 7

KJV All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

ASV All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

WEB All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

YLT All the labour of man <FI>is<Fi> for his mouth, and yet the soul is not filled.

DRB All the labour of man is for his mouth, but his soul shall not be filled.

DBY All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

GNV All the labour of man is for his mouth: yet the soule is not filled.

LSB All a man’s labor is for his mouth, and yet the soul is not fulfilled.

Verse 8

KJV For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?

ASV For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? [or] what hath the poor man, that knoweth how to walk before the living?

WEB For what advantage has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor man, that knows how to walk before the living?

YLT For what advantage <FI>is<Fi> to the wise above the fool? What to the poor who knoweth to walk before the living?

DRB What hath the wise man more than the fool? and what the poor man, but to go thither, where there is life?

DBY For what advantage hath the wise above the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?

GNV For what hath the wise man more then the foole? what hath the poore that knoweth how to walke before the liuing?

LSB For what advantage does the wise man have over the fool? What advantage does the afflicted man have, knowing how to walk before the living?

Verse 9

KJV Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

ASV Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

WEB Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

YLT Better <FI>is<Fi> the sight of the eyes than the going of the soul. This also <FI>is<Fi> vanity and vexation of spirit.

DRB Better it is to see what thou mayst desire, than to desire that which thou canst not know. But this also is vanity, and presumption of spirit.

DBY Better is the seeing of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and pursuit of the wind.

GNV The sight of ye eye is better then to walke in ye lustes: this also is vanitie, and vexation of spirit.

LSB What the eyes see is better than what the soul goes after. This too is vanity and striving after wind.

Verse 10

KJV That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.

ASV Whatsoever hath been, the name thereof was given long ago; and it is know what man is; neither can he contend with him that is mightier than he.

WEB Whatever has been, its name was given long ago; and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who is mightier than he.

YLT What <FI>is<Fi> that which hath been? already is its name called, and it is known that it <FI>is<Fi> man, and he is not able to contend with him who is stronger than he.

DRB He that shall be, his name is already called: and it is known, that he is a man, and cannot contend in judgment with him that is stronger than himself.

DBY That which is hath already been named; and what man is, is known, and that he cannot contend with him that is mightier than he.

GNV What is that that hath bene? the name thereof is nowe named: and it is knowen that it is man: and he cannot striue with him that is stronger then he.

LSB Whatever exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; and he cannot dispute with him who is stronger than he is.

Verse 11

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

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

WEB For there are many words that create vanity. What does that profit man?

YLT For there are many things multiplying vanity; what advantage <FI>is<Fi> to man?

DRB There are many words that have much vanity in disputing.

DBY For there are many things that increase vanity: what is man advantaged?

GNV

LSB For there are many words which increase vanity. What then is the advantage to a man?

Verse 12

KJV 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?

ASV 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?

WEB For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spends like a shadow? For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?

YLT For who knoweth what <FI>is<Fi> 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?

DRB

DBY For who knoweth what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell man what shall be after him under the sun?

GNV

LSB For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few days of his vain life? He will make do with them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?