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.

Read full chapter

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time.(A) He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom(B) what God has done from beginning to end.(C) 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink,(D) and find satisfaction(E) in all their toil—this is the gift of God.(F) 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.(G)

15 Whatever is has already been,(H)
    and what will be has been before;(I)
    and God will call the past to account.[b]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 3:11 Or also placed ignorance in the human heart, so that
  2. Ecclesiastes 3:15 Or God calls back the past