Ecclesiastes 3
Ecclesiastes 3 is part of “Times, Eternity, and Injustice” (3:1–4:16) in the outline of Ecclesiastes.
Ecclesiastes 3 summary
Solomon having shown the vanity of studies, pleasures, and business, and made it to appear that happiness is not to be found in the schools of the learned, nor in the gardens of Epicurus, nor upon the exchange, he proceeds, in this chapter, further to prove his doctrine, and the inference he had drawn from it, That therefore we should cheerfully content ourselves with, and make use of, what God has given us, by showing, I. The mutability of all human affairs (Ecc 3:1-10). II. The immutability of the divine counsels concerning them and the unsearchableness of those counsels (Ecc 3:11-15).
Read the full introduction
Solomon having shown the vanity of studies, pleasures, and business, and made it to appear that happiness is not to be found in the schools of the learned, nor in the gardens of Epicurus, nor upon the exchange, he proceeds, in this chapter, further to prove his doctrine, and the inference he had drawn from it, That therefore we should cheerfully content ourselves with, and make use of, what God has given us, by showing, I. The mutability of all human affairs (Ecc 3:1-10). II. The immutability of the divine counsels concerning them and the unsearchableness of those counsels (Ecc 3:11-15). III. The vanity of worldly honour and power, which are abused for the support of oppression and persecution if men be not governed by the fear of God in the use of them (Ecc 3:16). For a check to proud oppressors, and to show them their vanity, he reminds them, 1. That they will be called to account for it in the other world (Ecc 3:17). 2. That their condition, in reference to this world (for of that he speaks), is no better than that of the beasts (Ecc 3:18-21). And therefore he concludes that it is our wisdom to make use of what power we have for our own comfort, and not to oppress others with it.
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Key verses in Ecclesiastes 3
Ecclesiastes 3 (GNV)
Geneva Bible 1599 (public domain)
A Time for Everything
1To all things there is an appointed time, and a time to euery purpose vnder the heauen. 2A time to bee borne, and a time to die: a time to plant, and a time to plucke vp that which is planted. 3A time to slay, and a time to heale: a time to breake downe, and a time to builde. 4A time to weepe, and a time to laugh: a time to mourne, and a time to dance. 5A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones: a time to embrace, and a time to be farre from embracing. 6A time to seeke, and a time to lose: a time to keepe, and a time to cast away. 7A time to rent, and a time to sowe: a time to keepe silence, and a time to speake. 8A time to loue, and a time to hate: a time of warre, and a time of peace. 9What profite hath hee that worketh of the thing wherein he trauaileth? 10I haue seene the trauaile that God hath giuen to ye sonnes of men to humble them thereby.
God's Works Are Eternal
11He hath made euery thing beautifull in his time: also he hath set the worlde in their heart, yet can not man finde out the worke that God hath wrought from the beginning euen to the end. 12I know that there is nothing good in them, but to reioyce, and to doe good in his life. 13And also that euery man eateth and drinketh, and seeth the commoditie of all his labour. this is the gift of God. 14I knowe that whatsoeuer God shall doe, it shalbe for euer: to it can no man adde, and from it can none diminish: for God hath done it, that they should feare before him. 15What is that that hath bene? that is nowe: and that that shalbe, hath now bene: for God requireth that which is past.
Injustice and the Judgment to Come
16And moreouer I haue seene vnder the sunne the place of iudgement, where was wickednesse, and the place of iustice where was iniquitie. 17I thought in mine heart, God wil iudge the iust and the wicked: for time is there for euery purpose and for euery worke. 18I considered in mine heart the state of the children of men that God had purged them: yet to see to, they are in themselues as beastes. 19For the condition of the children of men, and the condition of beasts are euen as one condition vnto them. As the one dyeth, so dyeth the other: for they haue all one breath, and there is no excellency of man aboue ye beast: for all is vanitie. 20All goe to one place, and all was of the dust, and all shall returne to the dust. 21Who knoweth whether the spirit of man ascend vpward, and the spirit of the beast descend downeward to the earth? 22Therefore I see that there is nothing better then that a man shoulde reioyce in his affaires, because that is his portion. For who shall bring him to see what shalbe after him?