Ecclesiastes 3:21
Modern Translations
New International Version
Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?"

New Living Translation
For who can prove that the human spirit goes up and the spirit of animals goes down into the earth?

English Standard Version
Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth?

Berean Study Bible
Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and the spirit of the animal descends into the earth?

New American Standard Bible
Who knows that the spirit of the sons of mankind ascends upward and the spirit of the animal descends downward to the earth?

NASB 1995
Who knows that the breath of man ascends upward and the breath of the beast descends downward to the earth?

NASB 1977
Who knows that the breath of man ascends upward and the breath of the beast descends downward to the earth?

Amplified Bible
Who knows if the spirit of man ascends upward and the spirit of the animal descends downward to the earth?

Christian Standard Bible
Who knows if the spirits of the children of Adam go upward and the spirits of animals go downward to the earth?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Who knows if the spirit of people rises upward and the spirit of animals goes downward to the earth?

Contemporary English Version
Who really knows if our spirits go up and the spirits of animals go down into the earth?

Good News Translation
How can anyone be sure that the human spirit goes upward while an animal's spirit goes down into the ground?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Who knows whether a human spirit goes upward or whether an animal spirit goes downward to the earth?

International Standard Version
Who knows whether the spirit of human beings ascends, and whether the spirit of animals descends to the earth?

NET Bible
Who really knows if the human spirit ascends upward, and the animal's spirit descends into the earth?
Classic Translations
King James Bible
Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

New King James Version
Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth?

King James 2000 Bible
Who knows the spirit of man that goes upward, and the spirit of the beast that goes downward to the earth?

New Heart English Bible
Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth?"

World English Bible
Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth?"

American King James Version
Who knows the spirit of man that goes upward, and the spirit of the beast that goes downward to the earth?

American Standard Version
Who knoweth the spirit of man, whether it goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast, whether it goeth downward to the earth?

A Faithful Version
Who knows the spirit of man whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the beast whether it goes downward to the earth?

Darby Bible Translation
Who knoweth the spirit of the children of men? Doth it go upwards? and the spirit of the beasts, doth it go downwards to the earth?

English Revised Version
Who knoweth the spirit of man whether it goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast whether it goeth downward to the earth?

Webster's Bible Translation
Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

Early Modern
Geneva Bible of 1587
Who knoweth whether the spirit of man ascend vpward, and the spirit of the beast descend downeward to the earth?

Bishops' Bible of 1568
Who knoweth the spirite of man that goeth vpwarde, & the breath of the beast that goeth downe to the earth?

Coverdale Bible of 1535
Who knoweth the sprete of man yt goeth vpwarde, and the breth of the beest yt goeth downe in to the earth?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Who knows the spirit of the sons of man that is going up on high, and the spirit of the beast that is going down below to the earth?

Young's Literal Translation
Who knoweth the spirit of the sons of man that is going up on high, and the spirit of the beast that is going down below to the earth?

Smith's Literal Translation
Who shall know the spirit of the sons of man? it ascending to above, and the spirit of cattle, it going downwards to the earth.

Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who knoweth if the spirit of the children of Adam ascend upward, and if the spirit of the beasts descend downward?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Who knows if the spirit of the sons of Adam ascend upward, and if the spirit of the beasts descend downward?

Translations from Aramaic
Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And who knows if the spirit of the children of men ascends above, and the spirit of beasts descends under the earth?

Lamsa Bible
Who knows whether the spirit of men goes upward and the spirit of the beasts goes downward under the earth?

OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Who knoweth the spirit of man whether it goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast whether it goeth downward to the earth?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And who has seen the spirit of the sons of man, whether it goes upward? and the spirit of the beast, whether it goes downward to the earth?
















Ecclesiastes 3:20
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