1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. 9 What profit has he who works in that in which he labors? 10 I have seen the burden which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. 11 He 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. 12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good as long as they live. 13 Also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God. 14 I 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. 15 That which is has been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago: and God seeks again that which is passed away. 16 Moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there. 17 I 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." 18 I said in my heart, "As for the sons of men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals. 19 For 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. 20 All go to one place. All are from the dust, and all turn to dust again. 21 Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth?" 22 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?
It follows from Ecclesiastes 2:26 that the works of people are subject in their results to another will (God's) besides that of the doer. Here is the germ of the great question of later times - how to reconcile man's free will with God's decrees. Solomon's way of stating it is that to every separate work, which goes to make up the great aggregate of human activity (the "travail," Ecclesiastes 3:10), there is a season, an appropriate time which God appoints for its being done Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. To the question Ecclesiastes 3:9 What profit? he answers that the works of people, if done according to God's appointment, are a part of that beautifully arranged scheme of Divine Providence which, as a whole, is, by reason of its extent and duration, incomprehensible to us Ecclesiastes 3:11. Man's good is to rejoice and do good in his lifetime, which he can do only as God appoints Ecclesiastes 3:12-13. God's work, of which this would be a part, is forever, is perfect (and so not subject to vanity), and is calculated to teach people to revere Him Ecclesiastes 3:14. His work, which was begun long ago, is now going on to completion; His work hereafter will be a complement of something which was done previously; and He recalls the past in order to add to it what shall make it complete and perfect Ecclesiastes 3:15. The principle of divine government - that every work in order to be permanent and successful must be God's work as well as man's work - is also declared in Psalm 127:1-2 (attributed to Solomon).
Every thing has its time and season, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Men are exercised with labor, Ecclesiastes 3:9, Ecclesiastes 3:10. Every thing is beautiful in its season, Ecclesiastes 3:11. Men should enjoy thankfully the gifts of God, Ecclesiastes 3:12, Ecclesiastes 3:13. What God does is for ever, Ecclesiastes 3:14. There is nothing new, Ecclesiastes 3:15. The corruption of judgment; but the judgments of God are right, Ecclesiastes 3:16, Ecclesiastes 3:17. Man is brutish, and men and brutes die in like manner, Ecclesiastes 3:18-21. Man may enjoy the fruit of his own labors, Ecclesiastes 3:22.
INTRODUCTION TO ECCLESIASTES 3
The general design of this chapter is to confirm what is before observed, the vanity and inconstancy of all things; the frailty of man, and changes respecting him; his fruitless toil and labour in all his works; that it is best to be content with present things, and cheerful in them, and thankful for them; that all comes from the hand of God; that such good men, who have not at present that joy that others have, may have it, since there is a time for it; and that sinners should not please themselves with riches gathered by them, since they may be soon taken from them, for there is a time for everything, Ecclesiastes 3:1; of which there is an induction of particulars, Ecclesiastes 3:2; so that though every thing is certain with God, nothing is certain with men, nor to be depended on, nor can happiness be placed therein; there is no striving against the providence of God, nor altering the course of things; the labour of man is unprofitable, and his travail affliction and vexation, Ecclesiastes 3:9; and though all God's works are beautiful in their season, they are unsearchable to man, Ecclesiastes 3:11; wherefore it is best cheerfully to enjoy the present good things of life, Ecclesiastes 3:12; and be content; for the will and ways and works of God are unalterable, permanent, and perfect, Ecclesiastes 3:14; and though wicked men may abuse the power reposed in them, and pervert public justice, they will be called to an account for it in the general judgment, for which there is a time set, Ecclesiastes 3:16; and yet, such is the stupidity of the generality of men, that they have no more sense of death and judgment than the brutes, and live and die like them, Ecclesiastes 3:18; wherefore it is best of all to make a right use of power and riches, or what God has given to men, for their own good and that of others, since they know not what shall be after them, Ecclesiastes 3:22.
(Ecclesiastes 3:1-10) The changes of human affairs.
(Ecclesiastes 3:11-15) The Divine counsels unchangeable.
(Ecclesiastes 3:16-22) The vanity of worldly power.
*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.