¹¹The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? ¹²For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his ^evain⁴ life, which he passes like ^fa shadow? For who can tell man what will be ^gafter him under the sun?

Read in Logos

Footnotes

4The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on )

Cross references

e[ch. 7:15; 9:9]
fch. 8:13; See Job 14:2
g[ch. 2:18; 3:22]

In other versions

NIVNew International Version (2011)

The more the words,

the less the meaning,

and how does that profit anyone?

For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days they pass through like a shadow? Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?

CSBChristian Standard Bible

For when there are many words, they increase futility. What is the advantage for mankind? For who knows what is good for anyone in life, in the few days of his futile life that he spends like a shadow? Who can tell anyone what will happen after him under the sun?

NLTNew Living Translation

The more words you speak, the less they mean. So what good are they?

In the few days of our meaningless lives, who knows how our days can best be spent? Our lives are like a shadow. Who can tell what will happen on this earth after we are gone?

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Increasing words only multiplies futility,

how does that profit anyone?

For who knows what is good for a man in his life during the few days of his fleeting life, which are fleeting as a shadow? For who can tell anyone what will happen in the future under the sun?

KJV 1900King James Version

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

Public Domain