Ecclesiastes 3:14

Ecclesiastes 3:14

12 I know that nothing is ^abetter for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives,

13 and also that ^aevery man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.

14 I know that whatever God does,
It shall be forever.
^aNothing can be added to it,
And nothing taken from it.
God does it, that men should fear before Him.

15 ^aThat which is has already been,
And what is to be has already been;
And God¹ requires an account of what is past.

Injustice Seems to Prevail

16 Moreover ^aI saw under the sun:
In the place of¹ judgment,
Wickedness was there;
And in the place of righteousness,
¹Iniquity was there.

17 I said in my heart,
^a“God shall judge the righteous and the wicked,
For there is a time there for every¹ purpose and for every work.”

Commentaries:

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown

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Ecclesiastes 3:15 >>

(I Samuel 3:12; II Samuel 23:5; Psalms 89:34; Matthew 24:35; James 1:17).

for ever—as opposed to man's perishing labors (Ecclesiastes 2:15-18).

any thing taken from it—opposed to man's "crooked and wanting" works (Ecclesiastes 1:15; Ecclesiastes 7:13). The event of man's labors depends wholly on God's immutable purpose. Man's part, therefore, is to do and enjoy every earthly thing in its proper season (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13), not setting aside God's order, but observing deep reverence towards God; for the mysteriousness and unchangeableness of God's purposes are designed to lead "man to fear before Him." Man knows not the event of each act: otherwise he would think himself independent of God.

**Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Ecclesiastes 3:14:**

Ecclesiastes 2:26
Ecclesiastes 3:15

<< Ecclesiastes 3:13

Ecclesiastes 3:15 >>

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