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Berean Standard Bible

“For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so dies the other—they all have the same breath. Man has no advantage over the animals, since everything is futile.”

Ecclesiastes 3:19

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Study note

Ecclesiastes 3:16-22 shows the Teacher looking at injustice and then at death, asking what distinguishes humans from animals. He writes from an earthly perspective, observing life under the sun, and his conclusions are intentionally sobering.

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Compare translations

Berean Standard Bible (BSB)

For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so dies the other—they all have the same breath. Man has no advantage over the animals, since everything is futile.

World English Bible (WEB)

For that which happens to the sons of men happens to animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the other dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage over the animals: for all is vanity.

King James Version (KJV)

For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.

American Standard Version (ASV)

For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; and man hath no preeminence above the beasts: for all is vanity.

Bible in Basic English (BBE)

Because the fate of the sons of men and the fate of the beasts is the same. As is the death of one so is the death of the other, and all have one spirit. Man is not higher than the beasts; because all is to no purpose.

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

—

Reina-Valera 1909 (RVR 1909)

Porque el suceso de los hijos de los hombres, y el suceso del animal, el mismo suceso es: como mueren los unos, así mueren los otros; y una misma respiración tienen todos; ni tiene más el hombre que la bestia: porque todo es vanidad.

Sagradas Escrituras 1569 (SE 1569)

—

Nueva Biblia Viva (NBV)

Porque humanos y animales respiran el mismo aire y unos y otros mueren. De modo que la humanidad no tiene verdadera superioridad sobre las bestias; ¡qué absurdo!

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