Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

1 Everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses.

2 He sets the time for birth and the time for death, the time for planting and the time for pulling up,

3 the time for killing and the time for healing, the time for tearing down and the time for building.

4 He sets the time for sorrow and the time for joy, the time for mourning and the time for dancing,

5 the time for making love and the time for not making love, the time for kissing and the time for not kissing.

6 He sets the time for finding and the time for losing, the time for saving and the time for throwing away,

7 the time for tearing and the time for mending, the time for silence and the time for talk.

8 He sets the time for love and the time for hate, the time for war and the time for peace.

9 What do we gain from all our work?

10 I know the heavy burdens that God has laid on us.

11 He has set the right time for everything. He has given us a desire to know the future, but never gives us the satisfaction of fully understanding what he does.

12 So I realized that all we can do is be happy and do the best we can while we are still alive.

13 All of us should eat and drink and enjoy what we have worked for. It is God's gift.

14 I know that everything God does will last forever. You can't add anything to it or take anything away from it. And one thing God does is to make us stand in awe of him.

15 Whatever happens or can happen has already happened before. God makes the same thing happen again and again.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ECCLESIASTES 3

The general design of this chapter is to confirm what is before observed, the vanity and inconstancy of all things; the frailty of man, and changes respecting him; his fruitless toil and labour in all his works; that it is best to be content with present things, and cheerful in them, and thankful for them; that all comes from the hand of God; that such good men, who have not at present that joy that others have, may have it, since there is a time for it; and that sinners should not please themselves with riches gathered by them, since they may be soon taken from them, for there is a time for everything, Ec 3:1; of which there is an induction of particulars, Ec 3:2-8; so that though every thing is certain with God, nothing is certain with men, nor to be depended on, nor can happiness be placed therein; there is no striving against the providence of God, nor altering the course of things; the labour of man is unprofitable, and his travail affliction and vexation, Ec 3:9,10; and though all God's works are beautiful in their season, they are unsearchable to man, Ec 3:11; wherefore it is best cheerfully to enjoy the present good things of life, Ec 3:12,13; and be content; for the will and ways and works of God are unalterable, permanent, and perfect, Ec 3:14,15; and though wicked men may abuse the power reposed in them, and pervert public justice, they will be called to an account for it in the general judgment, for which there is a time set, Ec 3:16,17; and yet, such is the stupidity of the generality of men, that they have no more sense of death and judgment than the brutes, and live and die like them, Ec 3:18-21; wherefore it is best of all to make a right use of power and riches, or what God has given to men, for their own good and that of others, since they know not what shall be after them, Ec 3:22.