A Time for Every Purpose

Ecclesiastes 3

The Preacher declares that there is a season and a proper time for every activity of life, listing pairs such as birth and death, planting and uprooting, weeping and laughing, war and peace. He reflects that the Lord has made all things fitting in their time and that the Lord's works endure forever, and observes that the same end of death comes to man and beast alike.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonTIME is for all things: but there is a particular portion of time for every particular affair under heaven:

BrentonTo all things there is a time, and a season for every matter under heaven.

GreekΤοῖς πᾶσιν ὁ χρόνος, καὶ καιρὸς τῷ παντὶ πράγματι ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανόν.

KJVTo every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

JPSTo every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Thomsona time to be born and a time to die—a time to plant and a time to root up what was planted—

BrentonA time of birth, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what has been planted;

GreekΚαιρὸς τοῦ τεκεῖν καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ ἀποθανεῖν, καιρὸς τοῦ φυτεῦσαι καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ ἐκτίλαι τὸ πεφυτευμένον·

KJVA time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

JPSA time to be born, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

Thomsona time to kill and a time to heal—a time to pull down and a time to build up—

Brentona time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to pull down, and a time to build up;

GreekΚαιρὸς τοῦ ἀποκτεῖναι καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ ἰάσασθαι, καιρὸς τοῦ καθελεῖν καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ οἰκοδομεῖν·

KJVA time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

JPSA time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to break down, and a time to build up;

Thomsona time to weep and a time to laugh—a time to mourn and a time to dance—

Brentona time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to lament, and a time to dance;

GreekΚαιρὸς τοῦ κλαῦσαι καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ γελάσαι, καιρὸς τοῦ κόψασθαι καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ ὀρχήσασθαι·

KJVA time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

JPSA time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance;

Thomsona time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together—a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing—

Brentona time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to abstain from embracing;

GreekΚαιρὸς τοῦ βαλεῖν λίθους καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ συναγαγεῖν λίθους, καιρὸς τοῦ περιλαβεῖν καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ μακρυνθῆναι ἀπὸ περιλήψεως·

KJVA time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

JPSA time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

Thomsona time to seek and a time to lose—

Brentona time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

GreekΚαιρὸς τοῦ ζητῆσαι καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ ἀπολέσαι, καιρὸς τοῦ φυλάξαι καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ ἐκβαλεῖν·

KJVA time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

JPSA time to seek, and a time to lose; A time to keep, and a time to cast away;

Thomsona time to keep and a time to throw away—a time to rend and a time to sew—a time to be silent and a time to speak—

Brentona time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak;

GreekΚαιρὸς τοῦ ῥῆξαι καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ ῥάψαι, καιρὸς τοῦ σιγᾷν καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ λαλεῖν·

KJVA time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

JPSA time to rend, and a time to sew; A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

Thomsona time to love and a time to hate—a time of war and a time of peace.

Brentona time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

GreekΚαιρὸς τοῦ φιλῆσαι καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ μισῆσαι, καιρὸς πολέμου καὶ καιρὸς εἰρήνης.

KJVA time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

JPSA time to love, and a time to hate; A time for war, and a time for peace.

ThomsonWhat is the lasting advantage of the agent from the things in which he laboureth?

BrentonWhat advantage has he that works in those things wherein he labours?

GreekΤίς περίσσεια τοῦ ποιοῦντος ἐν οἷς αὐτὸς μοχθεῖ;

KJVWhat profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

JPS—

ThomsonI have taken a collective view of all the business which God hath assigned to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.

BrentonI have seen all the trouble, which God has given to the sons of men to be troubled with.

GreekΕἶδον σὺν πάντα τὸν περισπασμὸν, ὃν ἔδωκεν ὁ Θεὸς τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων τοῦ περισπᾶσθαι ἐν αὐτῷ.

KJVI have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

JPSI have seen the task which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.

ThomsonAll the things which He made, considered as a whole, are good in His time. But with regard to all things considered as one whole, to them He hath assigned the whole age; so that no man can find out the work which God hath done from beginning to end.

BrentonAll the things which he has made are beautiful in his time: he has also set the whole world in their heart, that man might not find out the work which God has wrought from the beginning even to the end.

GreekΤὰ σύμπαντα ἃ ἐποίησε καλὰ ἐν καιρῷ αὐτοῦ· καί γε σύμπαντα τὸν αἰῶνα ἔδωκεν ἐν καρδίᾳ αὐτῶν, ὅπως μὴ εὕρῃ ὁ ἄνθρωπος τὸ ποίημα ὁ ἐποίησεν ὁ Θεὸς ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς καὶ μέχρι τέλους.

KJVHe 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.

JPSHe hath made every thing beautiful in its time; also He hath set the world in their heart, yet so that man cannot find out the work that God hath done from the beginning even to the end.

ThomsonI have found that there is no good in them

BrentonI know that there is no good in them, except for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

GreekἜγνων ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἀγαθὸν ἐν αὐτοῖς, εἰ μὴ τοῦ εὐφρανθῆναι καὶ τοῦ ποιεῖν ἀγαθὸν ἐν ζωῇ αὐτοῦ·

KJVI know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

JPSI know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to get pleasure so long as they live.

Thomson(I mean in regard to every man who eateth and drinketh, and can see good in all his labour) if there is not a gift of God that he may be made glad and do good in his life.

BrentonAlso in the case of every man who shall eat and drink, and see good in all his labour, this is a gift of God.

GreekΚαί γε πᾶς ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὃς φάγεται καὶ πίεται, καὶ ἴδῃ ἀγαθὸν ἐν παντὶ μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ, δόμα Θεοῦ ἐστιν.

KJVAnd also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

JPSBut also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy pleasure for all his labour, is the gift of God.

Thomson—

BrentonI know that whatsoever things God has done, they shall be for ever: it is impossible to add to it, and it is impossible to take away from it: and God has done it, that men may fear before him.

GreekἜγνων ὅτι πάντα ὅσα ἐποίησεν ὁ Θεὸς αὐτὰ ἔσται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, ἐπʼ αὐτῷ οὐκ ἔστι προσθεῖναι, καὶ ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔστιν ἀφελεῖν· καὶ ὁ Θεὸς ἐποίησεν, ἵνα φοβηθῶσιν ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ.

KJVI 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.

JPSI know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever; nothing can be added to it, nor any thing taken from it; and God hath so made it, that men should fear before Him.

ThomsonWhat hath been is now; and what are to be have already been; and God will find out him who is persecuted:

BrentonThat which has been is now; and whatever things are appointed to be have already been; and God will seek out that which is past.

GreekΤὸ γενόμενον ἤδη ἐστί, καὶ ὅσα τοῦ γίνεσθαι ἤδη γέγονε, καὶ ὁ Θεὸς ζητήσει τὸν διωκόμενον.

KJVThat which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

JPSThat which is hath been long ago, and that which is to be hath already been; and God seeketh that which is pursued.

Thomsonand yet I saw under the sun a place of judgment: the wicked [man] was there; and a place for the just: the pious was there.

BrentonAnd moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, there was the ungodly one; and the place of righteousness, there was the godly one.

GreekΚαὶ ἔτι εἶδον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον τόπον τῆς κρίσεως, ἐκεῖ ὁ ἀσεβής· καὶ τόπον τοῦ δικαίου, ἐκεῖ ὁ εὐσεβής.

KJVAnd moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.

JPSAnd 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.

ThomsonThen I said in my heart: God will judge the whole class of the righteous, and the whole class of the wicked. For there is a time for everything; and He is there over all the work.

BrentonAnd I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the ungodly: for there is a time there for every action and for every work.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπα ἐγὼ ἐν καρδίᾳ μου, σὺν τὸν δίκαιον καὶ σὺν τὸν ἀσεβῆ κρινεῖ ὁ Θεός, ὅτι καιρὸς τῷ παντὶ πράγματι καὶ ἐπὶ παντὶ τῷ ποιήματι ἐκεῖ.

KJVI 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.

JPSI said in my heart: ‘The righteous and the wicked God will judge; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.’

ThomsonI communed with my heart concerning a saying of the sons of men, ’That God distinguisheth them.’ Now in order to shew that they themselves are beasts,

BrentonI said in my heart, concerning the speech of the sons of man, God will judge them, and that to shew that they are beasts.

GreekΕἶπα ἐγὼ ἐν καρδίᾳ μου, περὶ λαλιᾶς υἱῶν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, ὅτι διακρινεῖ αὐτοὺς ὁ Θεὸς, καὶ τοῦ δεῖξαι ὅτι αὐτοὶ κτήνη εἰσί.

KJVI 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.

JPSI said in my heart: ‘It is because of the sons of men, that God may sift them, and that they may see that they themselves are but as beasts.’

Thomsonthat at least which befalleth man, befalleth them; and that which befalleth the beast befalleth man. The same event happeneth to both. As the one dieth, so doth the other. And they have all one breath. What advantage then hath man over the beast? None: for all are vanity.

BrentonAlso to them is the event of the sons of man, and the event of the brute; one event befalls them: as is the death of the one, so also the death of the other; and there is one breath to all: and what has the man more than the brute? nothing; for all is vanity.

GreekΚαί γε αὐτοῖς συνάντημα υἱῶν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, καὶ συνάντημα τοῦ κτήνους, συνάντημα ἓν αὐτοῖς· ὡς ὁ θάνατος τούτου, οὕτως καὶ ὁ θάνατος τούτου· καὶ πνεῦμα ἓν τοῖς πᾶσι· καὶ τί ἐπερίσσευσεν ὁ ἄνθρωπος παρὰ τὸ κτῆνος; οὐδέν· ὅτι πάντα ματαιότης.

KJVFor 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.

JPSFor 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 man hath no pre-eminence above a beast; for all is vanity.

ThomsonThey are all for one place. They were all from dust: and to dust they shall all return.

BrentonAll go to one place; all were formed of the dust, and all will return to dust.

GreekΤὰ πάντα εἰς τόπον ἕνα, τὰ πάντα ἐγένετο ἀπὸ τοῦ χοὸς, καὶ τὰ πάντα ἐπιστρέψει εἰς τὸν χοῦν.

KJVAll go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

JPSAll go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all return to dust.

ThomsonAnd who hath seen the breath of the sons of men whether it ascendeth upwards; and the breath of the beast, whether it descendeth downwards into the earth?

BrentonAnd who has seen the spirit of the sons of man, whether it goes upward? and the spirit of the beast, whether it goes downward to the earth?

GreekΚαὶ τίς εἶδε πνεῦμα υἱῶν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, εἰ ἀναβαίνει αὐτὸ ἄνω; καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ κτήνους, εἰ καταβαίνει αὐτὸ κάτω εἰς γῆν;

KJVWho knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

JPSWho knoweth the spirit of man whether it goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast whether it goeth downward to the earth?

ThomsonSo I saw that there is nothing good in the works of man, but that by which he can be made glad; for that is his portion, for who will bring him to see what will be after him?

BrentonAnd I saw that there was no good, but that wherein a man shall rejoice in his works, for it is his portion, for who shall bring him to see any thing of that which shall be after him?

GreekΚαὶ εἶδον ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἀγαθὸν εἰ μὴ ὃ εὐφρανθήσεται ὁ ἀνθρωπος ἐν ποιήμασιν αὐτοῦ, ὅτι αὐτὸ μερὶς αὐτοῦ, ὅτι τίς ἄξει αὐτὸν τοῦ ἰδεῖν ἐν ᾧ ἐὰν γένηται μετʼ αὐτόν;

KJVWherefore 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?

JPSWherefore I perceived that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion; for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?