Ecclesiastes 3

God Has Ordained The Ebb And Flow Of Human Activities 

                                        NASB
                                    
                                                                            change
                                                                    
                                        KJV
                                    
                                                                            change
                                                                    
                                        HCSB
                                    
                                                                            change
                                                                    
                                        ISV
                                    
                                                                            change
                                                                    
                                        AMP
                                    
                                                                            change
                                                                    
Tools

                                    1 There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a (A)time for every (a)event under heaven—                                

                                    1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:                                

                                    1 There is an occasion for everything,and a time for every activity under heaven:(A)                                

                                    1 There is a season for everything, and a time for every event under heaven:                                

                                    1 There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven—                                
Tools

                                    2 A time to give birth and a (B)time to die;A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.                                

                                    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;                                

                                    2 a time to give birth and a time to die;(B)a time to plant and a time to uproot;(a)                                

                                    2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot what was planted;                                

                                    2 A time to be born and a time to die;A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.(A)                                
Tools

                                    3 A (C)time to kill and a time to heal;A time to tear down and a time to build up.                                

                                    3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;                                

                                    3 a time to kill and a time to heal;a time to tear down and a time to build;                                

                                    3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build up;                                

                                    3 A time to kill and a time to heal;A time to tear down and a time to build up.                                
Tools

                                    4 A time to (D)weep and a time to (E)laugh;A time to mourn and a time to (F)dance.                                

                                    4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;                                

                                    4 a time to weep and a time to laugh;(C)a time to mourn and a time to dance;(D)                                

                                    4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;                                

                                    4 A time to weep and a time to laugh;A time to mourn and a time to dance.                                
Tools

                                    5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.                                

                                    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;                                

                                    5 a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;(E)a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing;(F)                                

                                    5 a time to scatter stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;                                

                                    5 A time to throw away stones and a time to gather stones;A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.                                
Tools

                                    6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost;A time to keep and a time to throw away.                                

                                    6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;                                

                                    6 a time to search and a time to count as lost;a time to keep and a time to throw away;                                

                                    6 a time to search, and a time to give up searching; a time to keep, and a time to discard;                                

                                    6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost;A time to keep and a time to throw away.                                
Tools

                                    7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;A time to (G)be silent and a time to speak.                                

                                    7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;                                

                                    7 a time to tear and a time to sew;a time to be silent and a time to speak;(G)                                

                                    7 a time to tear, and a time to mend; a time to be silent, and a time to speak;                                

                                    7 A time to (a)tear apart and a time to sew together;A time to keep silent and a time to speak.(B)                                
Tools

                                    8 A time to love and a time to (H)hate;A time for war and a time for peace.                                

                                    8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.                                

                                    8 a time to love and a time to hate;a time for war and a time for peace.(H)                                 

                                    8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.                                

                                    8 A time to love and a time to hate;A time for war and a time for peace.(C)                                 
The God-Given TaskTools

                                    9 (I)What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils?                                

                                    9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?                                

                                    9 What does the worker gain from his struggles?(I)                                 

                                    9 What benefit does the worker gain from what he undertakes?                                 

                                    9 What profit is there for the worker from that in which he labors?                                 
No One Understands God's Mysterious PlanTools

                                    10 I have seen the (J)task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves.                                

                                    10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.                                

                                    10 I have seen the task that God has given people to keep them occupied.(J)                                 

                                    10 I have observed the burdens placed by God on human beings in order to perfect them.                                 

                                    10 I have seen the task which God has given to the sons of men with which to occupy themselves.                                 
Tools

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

                                    11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.                                

                                    11 He has made everything appropriate(b) in its time.(K) He has also put eternity in their hearts,(c) but man cannot discover the work God has done from beginning to end.(L)                                 

                                    11 He made everything appropriate in its time. He also placed eternity within them     yet, no person can fully comprehend what God is doing from beginning to end.                                

                                    11 He has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time. He has also planted eternity [a sense of divine purpose] in the human heart [a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except God]—yet man cannot find out (comprehend, grasp) what God has done (His overall plan) from the beginning to the end.                                 
Tools

                                    12 I know that there is (M)nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime;                                

                                    12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.                                

                                    12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy the(d) good life.                                 

                                    12 I have concluded that the only worthwhile thing for them is to take pleasure in doing good in life;                                 

                                    12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good as long as they live;                                 
Tools

                                    13 moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the (N)gift of God.                                

                                    13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.                                

                                    13 It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks, and enjoys all his efforts.(M)                                 

                                    13 moreover, every person should eat, drink, and enjoy the benefits of everything that he undertakes, since it is a gift from God.                                

                                    13 and also that every man should eat and drink and see and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.                                 
Tools

                                    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 (d)(O)fear Him.                                

                                    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.                                

                                    14 I know that all God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it.(N) God works so that people will be in awe of Him.(O)                                 

                                    14 I have concluded that everything that God undertakes will last for eternity     nothing can be added to it nor taken away from it     and that God acts this way so that people will fear him.                                 

                                    14 I know that whatever God does, it endures forever; nothing can be added to it nor can anything be taken from it, for God does it so that men will fear and worship Him [with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is God].(D)                                 
Tools

                                    15 That (P)which is has been already and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by.                                

                                    15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.                                

                                    15 Whatever is, has already been,(P) and whatever will be, already is. God repeats what has passed.(e)                                 

                                    15 That which was, now is; and that which will be, already is; and God examines what has already taken place.                                

                                    15 That which is has already been, and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by [so that history repeats itself].                                 
God's Mysterious Plan Allows Injustice To Exist In The WorldTools

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

                                    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.                                

                                    16 I also observed under the sun: there is wickedness at the place of judgment and there is wickedness at the place of righteousness.(Q)                                 

                                    16 I also examined on earth: where the halls of justice were supposed to be, there was lawlessness; and where the righteous were supposed to be, there was lawlessness. 17I told myself, "God will judge both the righteous and the wicked, because there is a time set to judge every event and every work."                                

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

                                    17 I said (e)to myself, “(R)God will judge both the righteous man and the wicked man,” for a (S)time for every (f)matter and for every deed is there.                                

                                    17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.                                

                                    17 I said to myself, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked,(R) since there is a time for every activity and every work.”(S)                                 

                                    17 "As for human beings," I told myself, "God puts them to the test, that they might see themselves as mere animals."                                 

                                    17 I said to myself, “God will judge both the righteous and the wicked,” for there is a time [appointed] for every matter and for every deed.                                 
Tools

                                    18 I said (g)to myself concerning the sons of men, “God has surely tested them in order for them to see that they are but (T)beasts.”                                

                                    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.                                

                                    18 I said to myself, “This happens concerning people, so that God may test them and they may see for themselves that they are like animals.”(T)                                 

                                    18 For what happens to people also happens to animals     a single event happens to them: just as someone dies, so does the other. In fact, they all breathe the same way, so that a human being has no superiority over an animal. All of this is pointless.                                 

                                    18 I said to myself regarding the sons of men, “God is surely testing them in order for them to see that [by themselves, without God] they are [only] animals.”                                 
Tools

                                    19 (U)For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts (h)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 (i)vanity.                                

                                    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.                                

                                    19 For the fate of people and the fate of animals is the same.(U) As one dies, so dies the other; they all have the same breath. People have no advantage over animals since everything is futile.                                 

                                    19 All of them go to one place: all of them originate from dust, and all of them return to dust.                                

                                    19 For the [earthly] fate of the sons of men and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath and there is no preeminence or advantage for man [in and of himself] over an animal, for all is vanity.                                 
Tools

                                    20 All go to the same place. All came from the (V)dust and all return to the dust.                                

                                    20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.                                

                                    20 All are going to the same place; all come from dust, and all return to dust.(V)                                 

                                    20 Who knows whether the spirit of human beings ascends, and whether the spirit of animals descends to the earth?                                 

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

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

                                    21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?                                

                                    21 Who knows if the spirit of people rises upward and the spirit of animals goes downward to the earth?                                 

                                    21 I concluded that it is worthwhile for people to find joy in their accomplishments, because that is their inheritance, since who can see what will exist after them?                                

                                    21 Who knows if the spirit of man ascends upward and the spirit of the animal descends downward to the earth?                                 
Tools

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

                                    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?                                

                                    22 I have seen that there is nothing better than for a person to enjoy his activities(W) because that is his reward. For who can enable him to see what will happen after he dies?(f)(X)                                

                                    22 So I have seen that there is nothing better than that a man should be happy in his own works and activities, for that is his portion (share). For who will bring him [back] to see what will happen after he is gone?