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?

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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)

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 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

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

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

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?

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