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Ecclesiastes 7:20

For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

KJV

Sapientia confortavit sapientem super decem principes civitatis ;

Vulgate

Ἡ σοφία βοηθήσει τῷ σοφῷ ὑπὲρ δέκα ἐξουσιάζοντας τοὺς ὄντας ἐν τῇ πόλει·

LXX

Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

ASV

כִּ֣י אָדָ֔ם אֵ֥ין צַדִּ֖יק בָּ/אָ֑רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲשֶׂה טּ֖וֹב וְ/לֹ֥א יֶחֱטָֽא

Hebrew

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In the original Hebrew

10 distinct Hebrew words appear in this verse.

אֲשֶׁר
'shr
particle · 5461×
אֵ֥ין
'yn
noun · 787×
אֶ֣רֶץ
'rts
noun · 2484×
אָדָ֖ם
'dm
noun · 545×
הֶחֱטִ֖יא
hchty'
verb · 237×
ט֣וֹב
tvb
verb · 562×
יַּ֥עַשׂ
y'sh
verb · 2621×
כִּֽי
ky
pronoun · 4439×
לֹ֣א
l'
proper_noun · 5171×
צַדִּ֑יק
tsdyq
adjective · 199×

Themes

Doctrines that cite this verse

Historic Christian voices

5 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

No mere man, since the fall, is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed.
Q. But can those converted to God obey these commandments perfectly? A. No. In this life even the holiest have only a small beginning of this obedience. Nevertheless, with all seriousness of purpose, they do begin to live according to all, not only some, of God's commandments.

Cross-references

  • 1John 1:8 — If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
  • 1John 1:8 — If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
  • 1Kgs 8:46 — If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or n
  • 1Kgs 8:46 — If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or n
  • 2Chr 6:36 — If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or nea
  • 2Chr 6:36 — If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or nea
  • Acts 15:39 — And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
  • Gal 3:11 — But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
  • Gal 5:17 — For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
  • Gen 6:9 — These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
  • Gen 8:21 — And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will
  • Gen 9:21 — And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.
  • Isa 53:6 — All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
  • Isa 64:6 — But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
  • Jas 3:2 — For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
  • Jas 3:2 — For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
  • Job 4:17 — Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
  • Job 15:14 — What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
  • Job 15:14 — What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
  • Phil 3:9 — And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
  • Prov 20:9 — Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
  • Prov 20:9 — Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
  • Ps 130:3 — If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
  • Ps 143:2 — And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
  • Ps 143:2 — And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
  • Rom 3:12 — They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
  • Rom 3:23 — For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
  • Rom 3:23 — For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
  • Rom 7:15 — For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
  • Rom 7:23 — But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.