15 What is that that hath been? that is now: and that that shall be, hath now been: for God [a]requireth that which is past.

16 And moreover, I have seen under the Sun the place of judgment, where was wickedness, and the place of justice, where was iniquity.

17 I thought in mine heart, God will judge the just and the wicked: for time is [b]there for every purpose and for every work.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 3:15 God only causeth that, which is past, to return.
  2. Ecclesiastes 3:17 Meaning, with God, howsoever man neglect his duty.

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

16 And I saw something else under the sun:

In the place of judgment—wickedness was there,
    in the place of justice—wickedness was there.

17 I said to myself,

“God will bring into judgment(C)
    both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
    a time to judge every deed.”(D)

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 3:15 Or God calls back the past