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Ecclesiastes 3
Highlighted words differ from the KJV. Most differences are matters of wording, style or the age of the English, not of meaning; a few reflect different manuscripts.
- 1KJVTo every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:WEBFor everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:
- 2KJVA time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;WEBa time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
- 3KJVA time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;WEBa time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
- 4KJVA time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;WEBa time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
- 5KJVA time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;WEBa time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
- 6KJVA time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;WEBa time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
- 7KJVA time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;WEBa time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
- 8KJVA time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.WEBa time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
- 9KJVWhat profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?WEBWhat profit has he who works in that in which he labors?
- 10KJVI have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.WEBI have seen the burden which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.
- 11KJVHe hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.WEBHe 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.
- 12KJVI know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.WEBI know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good as long as they live.
- 13KJVAnd also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.WEBAlso that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God.
- 14KJVI know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.WEBI 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.
- 15KJVThat which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.WEBThat which is has been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago. God seeks again that which is passed away.
- 16KJVAnd moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.WEBMoreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.
- 17KJVI said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.WEBI 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.”
- 18KJVI said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.WEBI said in my heart, “As for the sons of men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals.
- 19KJVFor that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.WEBFor 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.
- 20KJVAll go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.WEBAll go to one place. All are from the dust, and all turn to dust again.
- 21KJVWho knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?WEBWho knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth?”
- 22KJVWherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?WEBTherefore 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?
- King James Version (1769 text), public domain outside the United Kingdom, where Crown letters patent apply.
- World English Bible (WEB), public domain. “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org.