📖 Ecclesiastes — Chapter 3 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 To Revery thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Ecclesiastes 3:2 A Rtime Tto be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
Ecclesiastes 3:3 A Rtime to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
Ecclesiastes 3:4 A Rtime to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
Ecclesiastes 3:5 A time Rto cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time Tto refrain from embracing;
Ecclesiastes 3:6 A Rtime to Tget, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
Ecclesiastes 3:7 A Rtime to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
Ecclesiastes 3:8 A Rtime to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:9 RWhat profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
Ecclesiastes 3:10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 He Rhath 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.
Ecclesiastes 3:12 I know that there is no good in them, Rbut for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
Ecclesiastes 3:13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
Ecclesiastes 3:14 I know that, Rwhatsoever 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.
Ecclesiastes 3:15 That Rwhich hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth Tthat which is past.
Ecclesiastes 3:16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
Ecclesiastes 3:17 I Rsaid in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
Ecclesiastes 3:18 I said in mine heart Rconcerning the estate of the sons of men, Tthat God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
Ecclesiastes 3:19 For Rthat 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.
Ecclesiastes 3:20 All go unto one place; Rall are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
Ecclesiastes 3:21 Who Rknoweth the spirit Tof man that Tgoeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
Ecclesiastes 3:22 Wherefore I perceive that there is Rnothing 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?
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 — Changing seasons of life
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The familiar paired times name birth, death, planting, healing, grief, joy, and peace. The poem describes life’s range, not permission for every human action it names.
Key Truth: Recognize life’s changing seasons.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “To every ____ there is a season, and a time to every purpose …” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “A ____ to love, and a time to hate; a time of …” (Ecclesiastes 3:8)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 3:8 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “A time to ____ , and a time to hate; a time of war, …” (Ecclesiastes 3:8)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 3:8 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Ecclesiastes 3:9–15 — God’s work exceeds human grasp
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Human labor and appointed times are placed beside God’s enduring work. Doing good and enjoying labor are gifts within knowledge that remains limited.
Key Truth: Do good within the time given.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “____ profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?” (Ecclesiastes 3:9)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 3:9 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “… a man to rejoice, and to do good in his ____ .” (Ecclesiastes 3:12)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 3:12 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “That which hath ____ is now; and that which is to be hath already …” (Ecclesiastes 3:15)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 3:15 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Ecclesiastes 3:16–22 — Injustice and shared mortality
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Wickedness appears where judgment should be, yet the Preacher anticipates divine judgment. Shared death and uncertain knowledge of what follows invite humility about earthly observation.
Key Truth: Hold injustice and mortality before God.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “And moreover I saw under the sun the place of ____ , that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, …” (Ecclesiastes 3:16)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 3:16 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “… man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is ____ .” (Ecclesiastes 3:19)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 3:19 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “____ I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a …” (Ecclesiastes 3:22)
Find it in Ecclesiastes 3:22 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Romans 14:12 — Each person is accountable to God.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
What good can you do in your present season?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. What pattern unites the paired activities in verses 2–8?
2. What limit accompanies God’s making things beautiful in his time?
3. How is enjoying the good of labour characterized?
4. What answer follows observing wickedness in places of judgment?
5. What shared condition is emphasized by returning to dust?
Notes
Write what you want to remember, questions to explore, or Scriptures to look up later. Your saved notes are private to your account.
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