KJV Holy Bible

King James Version · With Archaic References

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 3

Audio narration · Text-to-speech

Ecclesiastes · Chapter 3 · King James Version

1

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

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;

3

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

4

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

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;

6

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

7

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

8

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

9

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

10

I 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.

12

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

13

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

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.

15

That 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.

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.

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.

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.

20

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

21

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

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?

Related Cross-References

Archaic Word Reference Guide

KJV uses Early Modern English. Click any underlined word in the text above for its meaning, or browse the glossary below.

theeyou (singular, object)
thouyou (singular, subject)
thyyour (singular)
thineyours (singular)
yeyou (plural)
hathhas
dothdoes
artare
wiltwill
wouldestwould
shouldestshould
couldestcould
saithsays / said
spakespoke
shaltshall
hasthave
whereforetherefore / why
whencefrom where
thencefrom there
hitherhere / to this place
thitherthere / to that place
nighnear
beholdlook / see
verilytruly / certainly
amenso be it / truly
selahpause and reflect
alleluiapraise the Lord
sanctifymake holy / set apart
iniquitysin / moral wrongdoing
transgressionviolation / sin
righteousnessmoral uprightness / justice
covenantsolemn agreement / promise
tabernacledwelling place / tent of meeting
propitiationatonement / satisfaction for sin
supplicationhumble prayer / petition

King James Version (KJV). Public Domain.

We value your privacy

We use essential cookies to keep you logged in and anonymous analytics to improve the site. No marketing or tracking cookies. Read our Cookie Policy

Verse of the Day