Ecclesiastes 3

King James Version

Full text for Ecclesiastes Chapter 3

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

2A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up [that which is] planted;

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

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

5A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

14I 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.

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

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.

17I 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.

18I 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.

19For 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.

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

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

22Wherefore 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?

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Ecclesiastes 3 opens with a poetic declaration that there is a divinely appointed time for every activity and purpose under heaven, encompassing birth, death, joy, sorrow, war, and peace. The Preacher then reflects on God's eternal work, which humans cannot fully comprehend, and concludes that man's best course is to find joy and do good in his labor, as this is God's gift. He further observes the shared mortality of man and beast, both returning to dust, and reiterates the importance of embracing present enjoyment.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins with a profound poem asserting that all human experiences and events, from birth to death, planting to plucking, and weeping to laughing, occur within a specific, ordained season and time under God's providence. The Preacher questions the ultimate profit of human labor, acknowledging the "travail" God has given to mankind. He then states that God makes everything beautiful in its appointed time, yet humans are unable to fully grasp the entirety of God's work. Consequently, the Preacher concludes that the greatest good for humanity is to rejoice, do good, eat, drink, and find satisfaction in their labor, recognizing these as gifts from God. He emphasizes the eternal and unchangeable nature of God's works, which are established to inspire fear before Him. Observing injustice in places of judgment, the Preacher affirms God's future judgment of both the righteous and the wicked. He further contemplates the shared mortality of humans and beasts, both returning to dust, suggesting a lack of earthly preeminence for man. Therefore, he concludes that man's portion is to find joy in his present works, as the future is unknowable.

Long Summary

Ecclesiastes 3 commences with a renowned poetic exposition, declaring that every activity and purpose beneath the heavens has an appointed season and time. This extensive list of contrasting pairs illustrates the cyclical and predetermined nature of life, encompassing fundamental experiences such as birth and death, planting and harvesting, weeping and laughing, and even war and peace. Following this, the Preacher poses a rhetorical question regarding the ultimate profit derived from human labor, acknowledging the burdensome "travail" that God has assigned to the sons of men. He then reflects on God's divine craftsmanship, noting that everything is made beautiful in its proper time, yet humanity is inherently limited in comprehending the full scope of God's work from beginning to end. The Preacher asserts that the only true good for individuals is to experience joy, engage in good deeds, and partake in the simple pleasures of eating and drinking, finding satisfaction in the fruits of their labor, for these are recognized as direct gifts from God. He further emphasizes the immutable and eternal character of God's actions, stating that nothing can be added or taken away, and that God orchestrates these things to instill a reverent fear in humanity. The Preacher observes the cyclical nature of time, where past, present, and future are interconnected, and God holds accountability for what has transpired. Subsequently, he notes the pervasive presence of wickedness and iniquity even within places designated for judgment and righteousness. This observation leads him to conclude that God will indeed judge both the righteous and the wicked, as there is a specific time for every purpose and work. The Preacher then contemplates the shared mortality of mankind and beasts, highlighting that both experience death and return to dust, possessing a common breath. This reflection leads to the somber conclusion that, in this earthly existence, man holds no inherent preeminence over a beast, for "all is vanity." The chapter concludes with the Preacher's perception that the most beneficial course for a man is to find contentment and rejoice in his own works, as this constitutes his designated portion, given that he cannot foresee what will occur after his time.

Core Concepts

  • Divine TimingThe concept that every event and human endeavor, from birth to death, and from war to peace, occurs according to a specific, preordained season and time established by God.
  • Human Comprehension LimitsThe idea that while God makes everything beautiful in its time, humanity is inherently unable to fully grasp or understand the entirety of God's work from its beginning to its end.
  • Joy in Labor as God's GiftThe conclusion that the best possible human experience is to find joy, do good, eat, and drink, and to enjoy the fruits of one's labor, recognizing these simple pleasures and satisfactions as direct gifts from God.
  • Immutability of God's WorkThe theological assertion that whatever God does is eternal and unchangeable; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it, and these actions are intended to inspire fear before Him.
  • Shared MortalityThe observation that both humans and animals share a common fate of death, returning to dust, and that in this earthly sense, man holds no inherent preeminence over a beast.
  • God's Future JudgmentThe belief, expressed by the Preacher, that despite present injustices and wickedness, God will ultimately judge both the righteous and the wicked at an appointed time.
  • Embracing Present PortionThe practical wisdom that, given the unknowable future and the limitations of human understanding, the most beneficial path for an individual is to find contentment and rejoice in their present works and experiences.