Ecclesiastes 3:15
13 and also that every man should eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his labor—this is the gift of God.
14 I know that everything God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God does it so that they should fear Him.
What exists has already been, and what will be has already been, for God will call to account what has passed.
16 Furthermore, I saw under the sun that in the place of judgment there is wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness.
17 I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked, since there is a time for every activity and every deed.”
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- What exists has already been, and what will be has already been, for God will call to account what has passed.
- KJV
- That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
- WEB
- That which is has been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago. God seeks again that which is passed away.
- ASV
- That which is hath been long ago; and that which is to be hath long ago been: and God seeketh again that which is passed away.
- DARBY
- That which is was long ago, and that which is to be hath already been; and God bringeth back again that which is past.
- BLB
- That which has been already, it [is]; and that which is to be, it has already been—and God requires that which is pursued.
- ÅB
- Hva der er, det var allerede før, og hva der skal bli, det har også vært før; Gud søker fram igjen det forgangne.
- OTB
- Det som er, har allerede vært, og det som skal komme, har vært før; og Gud kaller fortiden til regnskap.
- B1930
- Hvad der er, det var allerede før, og hvad der skal bli, det har også vært før; Gud søker frem igjen det forgangne.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Ecclesiastes 1:9–10
What has been will be again, and what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 6:10
Whatever exists was named long ago, and what happens to a man is foreknown; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he.
Read in context