Which Bible translation is shown on Ecclesiastes 3?

This page reproduces the public-domain World English Bible Protestant edition.

How should I cite a verse in Ecclesiastes 3?

Use the book, chapter, and verse, and name the World English Bible when the wording matters.

Ecclesiastes 3 (WEB) — Full Text

Old Testament

Ecclesiastes 3

1For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under 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 seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7a time to tear, 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 for war, and a time for peace.

9What profit has he who works in that in which he labors?

10I have seen the burden which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.

11He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man can’t find out the work that God has done from the beginning even to the end.

12I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good as long as they live.

13Also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God.

14I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should fear before him.

15That which is has been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago. God seeks again that which is passed away.

16Moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.

17I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”

18I said in my heart, “As for the sons of men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals.

19For that which happens to the sons of men happens to animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the other dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage over the animals, for all is vanity.

20All go to one place. All are from the dust, and all turn to dust again.

21Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth?”

22Therefore I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his works, for that is his portion; for who can bring him to see what will be after him?

READ IN CONTEXT

Before applying this chapter

A searching reflection on mortality, work, pleasure, wisdom, and life as God's gift. Read Ecclesiastes 3 within the complete Ecclesiastes overview, and use the contextual Bible reading guide before forming a personal application. Chapter divisions aid navigation, but the literary unit may begin earlier or continue into the next chapter.

Observe first

Mark repeated words, changes of speaker, commands, promises, contrasts, questions, and the relationship between paragraphs.

Apply responsibly

Distinguish description from command and immediate audience from later readers before forming a personal application.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in Ecclesiastes 3

Ecclesiastes 3 contains 22 verses and about 474 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 22 closes: “Therefore I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his works, for that is his portion; for who can bring him to see what will be after him?” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include time, away, sons, nothing, long, place. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About Ecclesiastes 3

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, Ecclesiastes 3:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.