Ecclesiastes 3:7

HCSB

Ecclesiastes 3:7

a time to tear and a time to sew;
a time to be silent and a time to speak;

Amos 5:13

Therefore, the wise person will keep silent
at such a time,
for the days are evil.

Genesis 37:29

When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes.

Genesis 37:34

Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days.

Genesis 44:18

But Judah approached him and said, “Sir, please let your servant speak personally to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, for you are like Pharaoh.

Genesis 44:34

For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the grief that would overwhelm my father.”

Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul. He said to him: “The king should not sin against his servant David. He hasn’t sinned against you; in fact, his actions have been a great advantage to you.

1 Samuel 25:24-44

She fell at his feet and said, “The guilt is mine, my lord, but please let your servant speak to you directly. Listen to the words of your servant.

2 Samuel 1:11

Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and all the men with him did the same.

2 Samuel 3:31

David then ordered Joab and all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn over Abner.” And King David walked behind the funeral procession.

1 Kings 21:27

When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put sackcloth over his body, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around subdued.

2 Kings 5:7

When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and asked, “Am I God, killing and giving life that this man expects me to cure a man of his skin disease? Think it over and you will see that he is only picking a fight with me.”

2 Kings 6:30

When the king heard the woman’s words, he tore his clothes. Then, as he was passing by on the wall, the people saw that there was sackcloth under his clothes next to his skin.

Esther 4:13-14

Mordecai told the messenger to reply to Esther, “Don’t think that you will escape the fate of all the Jews because you are in the king’s palace.

Esther 7:4

For my people and I have been sold out to destruction, death, and extermination. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept silent. Indeed, the trouble wouldn’t be worth burdening the king.”

Job 2:13

Then they sat on the ground with him seven days and nights, but no one spoke a word to him because they saw that his suffering was very intense.

Job 32:4-22

Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were all older than he.

Psalm 39:2

I was speechless and quiet;
I kept silent, even from speaking good,
and my pain intensified.

Proverbs 24:11-12

Rescue those being taken off to death,
and save those stumbling toward slaughter.

Proverbs 31:8-9

Speak up for those who have no voice,
for the justice of all who are dispossessed.

Isaiah 36:21

But they kept silent; they didn’t say anything, for the king’s command was, “Don’t answer him.”

Jeremiah 8:14

Why are we just sitting here?
Gather together; let us enter the fortified cities
and perish there,
for the Lord our God has destroyed us.
He has given us poisoned water to drink,
because we have sinned against the Lord.

Jeremiah 36:24

As they heard all these words, the king and all of his servants did not become terrified or tear their garments.

Lamentations 3:28

י YodLet him sit alone and be silent,
for God has disciplined him.

Joel 2:13

Tear your hearts,
not just your clothes,
and return to the Lord your God.
For He is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger, rich in faithful love,
and He relents from sending disaster.

Amos 8:3

In that day the temple songs will become wailing”—this is the Lord God’s declaration. “Many dead bodies, thrown everywhere! Silence!”

Micah 7:5

Do not rely on a friend;
don’t trust in a close companion.
Seal your mouth
from the woman who lies in your arms.

Luke 19:37-40

Now He came near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen:

Acts 4:20

for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Acts 9:39

So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they led him to the room upstairs. And all the widows approached him, weeping and showing him the robes and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Summary

Ecclesiastes 3:7

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

Time to rend

Time to keep

And a time to speak

Bible References

Time to rend

When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes.

Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and all the men with him did the same.

David then ordered Joab and all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn over Abner.” And King David walked behind the funeral procession.

When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put sackcloth over his body, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around subdued.

When the king heard the woman’s words, he tore his clothes. Then, as he was passing by on the wall, the people saw that there was sackcloth under his clothes next to his skin.

As they heard all these words, the king and all of his servants did not become terrified or tear their garments.

Tear your hearts,
not just your clothes,
and return to the Lord your God.
For He is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger, rich in faithful love,
and He relents from sending disaster.

Time to keep

Then they sat on the ground with him seven days and nights, but no one spoke a word to him because they saw that his suffering was very intense.

I was speechless and quiet;
I kept silent, even from speaking good,
and my pain intensified.

But they kept silent; they didn’t say anything, for the king’s command was, “Don’t answer him.”

י YodLet him sit alone and be silent,
for God has disciplined him.

Therefore, the wise person will keep silent

at such a time,
for the days are evil.

In that day the temple songs will become wailing”—this is the Lord God’s declaration. “Many dead bodies, thrown everywhere! Silence!”

Do not rely on a friend;
don’t trust in a close companion.
Seal your mouth
from the woman who lies in your arms.

And a time to speak

But Judah approached him and said, “Sir, please let your servant speak personally to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, for you are like Pharaoh.

She fell at his feet and said, “The guilt is mine, my lord, but please let your servant speak to you directly. Listen to the words of your servant.

Mordecai told the messenger to reply to Esther, “Don’t think that you will escape the fate of all the Jews because you are in the king’s palace.

Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were all older than he.

Rescue those being taken off to death,
and save those stumbling toward slaughter.

Speak up for those who have no voice,

for the justice of all who are dispossessed.

Now He came near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen:

for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”