Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. Solomon seems to express his wish that men might perceive, that by choosing this world as their portion, they brought themselves to a level with the beasts, without being free, as they are, from present vexations and a future account. All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet, also placed ignorance in the human heart, so that. All have the same breath. 14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. Everything is meaningless. This is given us, that we may always have something to do; none were sent into the world to be idle.11-15 Every thing is as God made it; not as it appears to us. 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;. a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing. 3 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, I said to myself, “God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed.”. The time to die is fast approaching. 21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? 1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, For who can bring them to see what will happen after them? All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account. The changes of human affairs. Proud member
For who can bring them to see what will happen after them? Surely their case is lamentable, the height of whose hopes and wishes is, that they may die like beasts. a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. There has no change befallen us, nor has any temptation by it taken us, but such as is common to men.16-22 Without the fear of the Lord, man is but vanity; set that aside, and judges will not use their power well. Verses 1-8: These verses speak of an appointed time. ; humans have no advantage over animals. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. And I saw something else under the sun: In the place of judgment—wickedness was there, in the place of justice—wickedness was there. Article Images Copyright © 2020 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. in the place of justice—wickedness was there. All have the same breath. (16-22)1-10 To expect unchanging happiness in a changing world, must end in disappointment. Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. Jesus is revealed as the Son of God, and the Hope of sinners.Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710. (, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Copyright © 2020, Bible Study Tools. Both return to the dust from whence they were taken. 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; NIV®. Ecclesiastes Chapter 3. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. In the place of judgment—wickedness was there. So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. 1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. Ecclesiastes chapter 3 KJV (King James Version) 1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:. Thus labour and sorrow fill the world. 22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him? We mistake if we think we were born for ourselves; no, it is our business to do good in this life, which is short and uncertain; we have but little time to be doing good, therefore we should redeem time. Scripture quoted by permission. The world, as it has been, is, and will be. 15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past. 20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. Cancel {{#items}} {{/items}} Ecclesiastes 3. It is as certain that the spirit of the beast goes downward to the earth; it perishes at death. Learn More About New International Version. (11-15) The vanity of worldly power. a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away. 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;. and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them. a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. 18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. of
Ecclesiastes says no one can add or take away from what. no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. To answer this, is the grand design of revelation. 3. CHAPTER 3 No One Can Determine the Right Time to Act 1* There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”. I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. The spirit of man goes upward, to be judged, and is then fixed in an unchangeable state of happiness or misery. 13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. Chapter. To bring ourselves to our state in life, is our duty and wisdom in this world. 19 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. (1-10) The Divine counsels unchangeable. Previous Book Previous Chapter Read the Full Chapter Next Chapter Next Book. Scripture Formatting. Let our inquiry be, how an eternity of existence may be to us an eternity of enjoyment? I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. Not only does God fix the standard and withhold or dispense satisfaction (2:26), but He also appoints “times”. The world has not only gained possession of the heart, but has formed thoughts against the beauty of God's works. a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing. for there will be a time for every activity. So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. What little reason have we to be proud of our bodies, or bodily accomplishments! He has made everything beautiful in its time. 16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.