Add parallel Print Page Options

God Set Eternity in the Heart of Man

11 He has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time. He has also planted eternity [a sense of divine purpose] in the human heart [a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except God]—yet man cannot find out (comprehend, grasp) what God has done (His overall plan) from the beginning 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 and also that every man should eat and drink and see and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God. 14 I know that whatever God does, it endures forever; nothing can be added to it nor can anything be taken from it, for God does it so that men will fear and worship Him [with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is God].(A) 15 That which is has already been, and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by [so that history repeats itself].

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