Lectionary Calendar
Friday, May 2nd, 2025
the Second Week after Easter
the Second Week after Easter
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Read the Bible
King James Version
Ecclesiastes 8:7
For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Barnes' Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
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- EveryParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
Yet no one knows what will happen because who can tell him what will happen?
Yet no one knows what will happen because who can tell him what will happen?
Hebrew Names Version
For he doesn't know that which will be; for who can tell him how it will be?
For he doesn't know that which will be; for who can tell him how it will be?
English Standard Version
For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be?
For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be?
New American Standard Bible
If no one knows what will happen, who can tell him when it will happen?
If no one knows what will happen, who can tell him when it will happen?
New Century Version
They do not know what the future holds, and no one can tell them what will happen.
They do not know what the future holds, and no one can tell them what will happen.
Amplified Bible
For no one knows what will happen; So who can tell him how and when it will happen?
For no one knows what will happen; So who can tell him how and when it will happen?
World English Bible
For he doesn't know that which will be; for who can tell him how it will be?
For he doesn't know that which will be; for who can tell him how it will be?
Geneva Bible (1587)
For he knoweth not that which shalbe: for who can tell him when it shalbe?
For he knoweth not that which shalbe: for who can tell him when it shalbe?
Legacy Standard Bible
If no one knows what will happen, who can tell him when it will happen?
If no one knows what will happen, who can tell him when it will happen?
Berean Standard Bible
Since no one knows what will happen, who can tell him what is to come?
Since no one knows what will happen, who can tell him what is to come?
Contemporary English Version
though no one can tell the future.
though no one can tell the future.
Complete Jewish Bible
by uncertainty over the future; even when the event takes place, who will tell them about it?
by uncertainty over the future; even when the event takes place, who will tell them about it?
Darby Translation
for he knoweth not that which shall be; for who can tell him how it shall be?
for he knoweth not that which shall be; for who can tell him how it shall be?
Easy-to-Read Version
and you are not sure what will happen. No one can tell you what will happen in the future.
and you are not sure what will happen. No one can tell you what will happen in the future.
George Lamsa Translation
For there is no one who knows that which has been; and who can tell him what will be after him?
For there is no one who knows that which has been; and who can tell him what will be after him?
Good News Translation
None of us knows what is going to happen, and there is no one to tell us.
None of us knows what is going to happen, and there is no one to tell us.
Lexham English Bible
Surely no one knows what will be, so who can tell anyone what will happen?
Surely no one knows what will be, so who can tell anyone what will happen?
Literal Translation
For he does not know what shall be. For who can tell him when it shall be?
For he does not know what shall be. For who can tell him when it shall be?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And why? a man knoweth not what is for to come, for who wyll tell him?
And why? a man knoweth not what is for to come, for who wyll tell him?
American Standard Version
for he knoweth not that which shall be; for who can tell him how it shall be?
for he knoweth not that which shall be; for who can tell him how it shall be?
Bible in Basic English
No one is certain what is to be, and who is able to say to him when it will be?
No one is certain what is to be, and who is able to say to him when it will be?
JPS Old Testament (1917)
For he knoweth not that which shall be; for even when it cometh to pass, who shall declare it unto him?
For he knoweth not that which shall be; for even when it cometh to pass, who shall declare it unto him?
King James Version (1611)
For hee knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him, when it shall be?
For hee knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him, when it shall be?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And why? a man knoweth not what is for to come: for who can tell hym when it shalbe?
And why? a man knoweth not what is for to come: for who can tell hym when it shalbe?
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
For there is no one that knows what is going to be: for who shall tell him how it shall be?
For there is no one that knows what is going to be: for who shall tell him how it shall be?
English Revised Version
for he knoweth not that which shall be; for who can tell him how it shall be?
for he knoweth not that which shall be; for who can tell him how it shall be?
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
for he knowith not thingis passid, and he mai not knowe bi ony messanger thingis to comynge.
for he knowith not thingis passid, and he mai not knowe bi ony messanger thingis to comynge.
Update Bible Version
for he doesn't know that which shall be; for who can tell him how it shall be?
for he doesn't know that which shall be; for who can tell him how it shall be?
Webster's Bible Translation
For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?
For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?
New English Translation
Surely no one knows the future, and no one can tell another person what will happen.
Surely no one knows the future, and no one can tell another person what will happen.
New King James Version
For he does not know what will happen; So who can tell him when it will occur?
For he does not know what will happen; So who can tell him when it will occur?
New Living Translation
Indeed, how can people avoid what they don't know is going to happen?
Indeed, how can people avoid what they don't know is going to happen?
New Life Bible
If no one knows what will happen, who can tell him when it will happen?
If no one knows what will happen, who can tell him when it will happen?
New Revised Standard
Indeed, they do not know what is to be, for who can tell them how it will be?
Indeed, they do not know what is to be, for who can tell them how it will be?
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For there is no one who knoweth what shall be, for, when it shall be, who will tell him?
For there is no one who knoweth what shall be, for, when it shall be, who will tell him?
Douay-Rheims Bible
Because he is ignorant of things past, and things to come he cannot know by any messenger.
Because he is ignorant of things past, and things to come he cannot know by any messenger.
Revised Standard Version
For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be?
For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be?
Young's Literal Translation
For he knoweth not that which shall be, for when it shall be who declareth to him?
For he knoweth not that which shall be, for when it shall be who declareth to him?
New American Standard Bible (1995)
If no one knows what will happen, who can tell him when it will happen?
If no one knows what will happen, who can tell him when it will happen?
Contextual Overview
6 Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. 7 For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be? 8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
he knoweth: Ecclesiastes 6:12, Ecclesiastes 9:12, Ecclesiastes 10:14, Proverbs 24:22, Proverbs 29:1, Matthew 24:44, Matthew 24:50, Matthew 25:6-13, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3
when: or, how
Reciprocal: Job 10:13 - hid Job 24:1 - seeing Ecclesiastes 3:22 - who Ecclesiastes 8:16 - When I
Cross-References
Leviticus 11:15
Every raven after his kind;
Every raven after his kind;
1 Kings 17:4
And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
1 Kings 17:6
And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.
And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.
Job 38:41
Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.
Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.
Psalms 147:9
He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.
He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
For he knoweth not that which shall be,.... Or that "it shall be" b; that he ever shall have the opportunity again he has lost, nor what is to come hereafter; what shall be on the morrow, or what shall befall him in the remaining part of his days; what troubles and sorrows he shall meet with, or what will be the case and circumstances of his family after his death;
for who can tell him when it shall be? or "how it shall be" c? how it will be with him or his; no one that pretends to judicial astrology, or to the art of divination, or any such devices, can tell him what is to come; future things are only certainly known by God; none but he can tell what will certainly come to pass; see Ecclesiastes 3:22; Jarchi interprets it of a man's not considering for what God will bring him to judgment, and that no man can tell him the vengeance and punishment that will be inflicted.
b מה שיהיה "quod futurum est", Pagninus, Montanus. c כאשר יהיה "quo modo", Junius & Tremellius, Gejerus, Rambachius, so Broughton.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
When - Or, as in the margin. For the meaning of this verse, compare marginal references.
