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For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
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A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted;
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a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build up;
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a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
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a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
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a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
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a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
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a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
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What profit has the worker from that in which he labors?
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I have seen the task that God has given to the children of man to occupy them.
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He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet man cannot find out the work that God has done from beginning to end.
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I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy good in their life.
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And also that every person should eat and drink and enjoy good in all his labor—that is the gift of God.
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I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it, and nothing can be taken from it. God has done this so that people should fear him.
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That which is, already has been; and that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has passed by.
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Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of judgment, wickedness was there, and in the place of righteousness, wickedness was there.
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I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work.”
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I said in my heart concerning the children of man, “God is testing them, that they may see that they are but animals.”
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For the fate of the children of man and the fate of animals is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity.
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All go to one place; all are from the dust, and all return to the dust.
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Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward, and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth?
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I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to rejoice in his work, for that is his portion. For who can show him what will happen after him?
⏰🍂🕊️ Summary of Ecclesiastes 3 – There Is a Time for Everything
Ecclesiastes 3 is one of the best-known chapters in this book. Solomon declares that everything in the world has its own time, and that human beings cannot control everything. Yet, behind it all, God works perfectly according to His time, and we are called to live with reverence for His will, not merely to struggle to understand the mysteries of life.
📌 1. A List of Times in Life (verses 1–8)
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”
There is a time:
- to be born & to die
- to weep & to laugh
- to tear down & to build up
- to love & to hate
- for war & peace
🎯 Life is seasonal — and balance is needed to respond wisely to each season.
📌 2. God Has Made Everything Beautiful in Its Time (verses 9–11)
“He has made everything beautiful in its time; also, he has put eternity into their hearts…”
- Human beings know that life is more than this world alone
- But we cannot fully understand the work of God
🎯 We have a longing for eternity, yet we are limited in fully understanding it.
📌 3. Enjoying Life as a Gift (verses 12–13)
“There is nothing better… than to rejoice and enjoy good in his life.”
- Eating, drinking, and working are blessings from God
- True happiness is knowing that life is a gift, not a right
🎯 Do not chase total understanding — live with gratitude.
📌 4. God Is Sovereign & Just (verses 14–17)
“Everything that God does will remain forever…”
- The Lord works with purpose and absolute power
- The time will come for judgment on evil and righteousness
🎯 God is not only sovereign over time, but also over justice.
📌 5. Humanity and Death (verses 18–22)
“For the fate of the children of man and the fate of animals is the same…”
- We will all die — so use the time of life wisely
- The difference is not in the end of life, but in the meaning during life
🎯 Without God, life seems no different from that of animals. But with God, our time becomes eternal.
📖 Main Teaching
- All things in the world have their own time — we are called to adjust ourselves, not resist
- God orders times and seasons — and makes everything beautiful in its time
- We are given a longing for eternity, but not always all the answers
- Enjoying life within the bounds of the fear of the Lord is the wisest way to live
- Human life is fleeting — yet it can have eternal value if directed to God
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son…”
“With the Lord one day is like a thousand years…”
“Pay careful attention to how you live… make use of the time you have…”
“God works together in all things for good…”
🎯 Jesus came at the right time, and the life of a believer becomes meaningful because it is aligned with God’s eternal plan.
🕊️ “For everything there is a time…” – Ecclesiastes 3:1
🕊️ “He makes everything beautiful in its time…” – Ecclesiastes 3:11
🕊️ “There is nothing better… than to rejoice…” – Ecclesiastes 3:12
🕊️ “Everything that God does will endure…” – Ecclesiastes 3:14
