Ecclesiastes 3:11-22

God Set Eternity in the Heart of Man

11 He has ¹made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man ²will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.

12 I know that there is ³nothing better for them than * to rejoice and to do good in one's lifetime;

13 moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor -it is the ⁴gift of God.

14 I know that everything * God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should ⁵fear Him.

15 That ⁶which * is has been already and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by.

16 Furthermore, I have seen under the sun that in the place of justice there is ⁷wickedness and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness.

17 I said to myself, "⁸God will judge both the righteous man and the wicked man," for a ⁹time for every matter and for every deed is there.

18 I said to myself concerning * the sons of men, "God has surely tested them in order for them to see that they are but ¹⁰beasts."

19 ¹¹For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same. As one dies so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath and there is no advantage for man over beast, for all is vanity.

20 All go to the same place. All came from the ¹²dust and all return to the dust.

21 Who knows that the ¹³breath of man ascends upward and the breath of the beast descends downward to the earth?

22 I have seen that ¹⁴nothing is better than that man should be happy in his activities, for that is his lot. For who will bring him to see ¹⁵what will occur after him?

Ecclesiastes 3:11-22 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.

Cross References

• 1. Genesis 1:31
• 2. Job 5:9; Ecclesiastes 7:23; Ecclesiastes 8:17; Romans 11:33
• 3. Ecclesiastes 2:24
• 4. Ecclesiastes 2:24; Ecclesiastes 5:19
• 5. Ecclesiastes 5:7; Ecclesiastes 7:18; Ecclesiastes 8:12, 13; Ecclesiastes 12:13
• 6. Ecclesiastes 1:9; Ecclesiastes 6:10
• 7. Ecclesiastes 4:1; Ecclesiastes 5:8; Ecclesiastes 8:9
• 8. Genesis 18:25; Psalms 96:13; Psalms 98:9; Ecclesiastes 11:9; Matthew 16:27; Romans 2:6-10; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9
• 9. Ecclesiastes 3:1; Ecclesiastes 8:6
• 10. Psalms 49:12, 20; Psalms 73:22
• 11. Psalms 49:12; Ecclesiastes 9:12
• 12. Genesis 3:19; Psalms 103:14; Ecclesiastes 12:7
• 13. Ecclesiastes 12:7
• 14. Ecclesiastes 2:24
• 15. Ecclesiastes 2:18; Ecclesiastes 6:12; Ecclesiastes 8:7; Ecclesiastes 10:14

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "beautiful"
• [b]. Or "without which man"
• [c]. Or "be in awe before Him"
• [d]. Lit "in my heart"
• [e]. Or "delight"
• [f]. Lit "in my heart"
• [g]. Lit "and they have one fate"
• [h]. Or "futility"