Ecclesiastes 3

All 22 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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  1. 1To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:
  2. 2A time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted;
  3. 3A time to kill and a time to heal; a time to break down and a time to build up;
  4. 4A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance;
  5. 5A time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;
  6. 6A time to get and a time to lose; a time to keep and a time to cast away;
  7. 7A time to tear and a time to sew; a time to keep silent and a time to speak;
  8. 8A time to love and a time to hate; a time of war and a time of peace.
  9. 9What profit does the worker have in that which he labors in?
  10. 10I have seen the travail that God has given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
  11. 11He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God does from the beginning to the end.
  12. 12I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice and to do good in his life.
  13. 13And also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor — it is the gift of God.
  14. 14I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. And God does it so that men should fear before him.
  15. 15That which has been is now; and that which is to be has already been; and God requires that which is past.
  16. 16And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
  17. 17I said in my heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
  18. 18I said in my heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
  19. 19For that which befalls the sons of men befalls beasts; even one thing befalls them: as the one dies, so dies the other; yes, they all have one breath; so that a man has no preeminence above a beast, for all is vanity.
  20. 20All go to one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
  21. 21Who knows the spirit of man that goes upward, and the spirit of the beast that goes downward to the earth?
  22. 22Therefore I see that there is nothing better than for a man to rejoice in his own works, for that is his portion; for who can bring him to see what will happen after him?