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Ecclesiastes Outline

      • An appointed time for everything (1-8)

      • Enjoying life a gift from God (9-15)

        • Eternity is in man’s heart (11)

      • God judges all with justice (16, 17)

      • Men and animals all eventually die (18-22)

        • All will return to dust (20)

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    4/1/2009, p. 26

    3/1/2009, pp. 4-6

    10/1/1999, pp. 5-6

    4/15/1986, p. 11

  • Publications Index

    w09 3/1 4-6; w09 4/1 26; w99 10/1 5-6; w86 4/15 11;

    g80 9/8 4; w78 11/1 18-19; w77 122; w74 644; g72 11/22 11; w71 61; w71 263; w67 259; g64 2/22 27; w62 726; w61 370, 419; w60 48; w57 700; pn 16; tf 146

Ecclesiastes 3:2

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Bible Questions Answered, article 80

    The Watchtower (Public),

    No. 1 2017, p. 14

    The Watchtower,

    4/1/2009, p. 26

    3/1/2009, pp. 5-6

    10/15/1991, pp. 5-6

    Reasoning, p. 138

  • Publications Index

    ijwbq article 80; wp17.1 14; w09 3/1 5-6; w09 4/1 26; w91 10/15 5-6; rs 138;

    g80 9/8 4; w77 122; w61 419

Ecclesiastes 3:3

Indexes

  • Publications Index

    w61 419; s 279; w38 355

Ecclesiastes 3:4

Footnotes

  • *

    Lit., “leap; skip about.”

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Insight, Volume 1, pp. 101-102

    The Watchtower,

    10/1/1999, pp. 6-8

    10/15/1992, p. 18

    6/1/1988, p. 23

    Family Happiness, pp. 97-98

    Awake!,

    7/22/1996, p. 25

    6/8/1996, p. 14

  • Publications Index

    it-1 101-102; w99 10/1 6-8; fy 97-98; g96 6/8 14; g96 7/22 25; w92 10/15 18; w88 6/1 23;

    g80 9/8 28; yy 116; w75 699; g75 7/22 13, 15; g72 1/8 4; w63 387; g62 1/8 3; w61 419

Ecclesiastes 3:5

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    10/1/1999, pp. 8-10

  • Publications Index

    w99 10/1 8-10

Ecclesiastes 3:7

Marginal References

  • +2Sa 3:31
  • +Ps 39:1
  • +1Sa 19:4; 25:23, 24; Es 4:13, 14; Ps 145:11; Pr 9:8

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower (Study),

    3/2020, pp. 18-23

    The Watchtower (Study),

    7/2019, pp. 11-12

    The Watchtower,

    12/15/2015, pp. 19-20

    5/15/2009, pp. 3-5

    10/1/1999, pp. 12-14

    12/1/1998, pp. 15-18

    5/15/1996, pp. 21-23

    9/1/1987, pp. 12-15

    Family Happiness, p. 66

  • Publications Index

    w20.03 18-23; w19.07 11-12; w15 12/15 19-20; w09 5/15 3-5; w99 10/1 12-14; w98 12/1 15-18; w96 5/15 21-23; fy 66; w87 9/1 12-15;

    fl 67; w73 542; g72 11/22 11; g64 3/22 3; w63 150; g60 11/22 3

Ecclesiastes 3:8

Marginal References

  • +Ps 139:21; Ro 12:9

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Insight, Volume 2, pp. 278-279

    The Watchtower,

    12/1/2011, pp. 23-24

    10/1/1999, pp. 10-12

  • Publications Index

    it-2 278-279; w11 12/1 23-24; w99 10/1 10-12;

    w74 438; g72 9/22 3; w71 263; w67 259; w66 491; g64 2/22 27; g63 7/22 4; w61 419; pn 16; w32 70

Ecclesiastes 3:9

Marginal References

  • +Ec 1:3; 5:15, 16

Indexes

  • Publications Index

    w77 122

Ecclesiastes 3:10

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    3/1/2009, pp. 5-6

  • Publications Index

    w09 3/1 5;

    w77 122; ts 18-21; w57 700

Ecclesiastes 3:11

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “well-arranged; proper; appropriate.”

Marginal References

  • +Ge 1:31; Ro 1:20

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower (Study),

    10/2023, pp. 21-22

    Bible Verses Explained, article 41

    The Watchtower (Study),

    12/2022, p. 4

    Close to Jehovah, p. 319

    Enjoy Life Forever!, lesson 25

    The Watchtower (Public),

    No. 3 2019, p. 4

    The Watchtower (Public),

    No. 2 2016, p. 5

    The Watchtower,

    10/1/2015, p. 13

    1/1/2014, pp. 4-5

    3/1/2009, pp. 5-7

    11/1/2006, p. 14

    6/1/2002, p. 3

    4/15/1999, pp. 5-6

    4/1/1996, pp. 11-12

    1/1/1993, p. 3

    10/1/1987, pp. 10-11

    9/15/1987, p. 24

    Awake!,

    8/2009, p. 18

    12/2007, p. 6

    9/2006, p. 25

    3/8/2003, p. 11

    1/22/1996, p. 13

    10/22/1995, p. 5

    5/8/1995, p. 26

    1/22/1987, pp. 11-12

    Satisfying Life, p. 29

    Creator, pp. 70-71

    Live Forever, p. 10

  • Publications Index

    ijwbv article 41; w23.10 21-22; w22.12 4; cl 319; lff lesson 25; wp19.3 4; wp16.2 5; w15 10/1 13; w14 1/1 4-5; w09 3/1 5-7; g 8/09 18; g 12/07 6; w06 11/1 14; g 9/06 25; g03 3/8 11; w02 6/1 3; la 29; w99 4/15 5-6; ct 70-71; w96 4/1 11-12; g96 1/22 13; g95 5/8 26; g95 10/22 5; w93 1/1 3; pe 10; w87 9/15 24; w87 10/1 10; g87 1/22 11-12;

    w82 8/1 16; w80 5/15 30; g80 10/22 5; g78 4/8 19; w77 122-123; lp 85; g77 8/8 4; w76 300; gh 174; g75 10/22 4; ts 18-21; w66 191; w63 291; w61 484; w60 45; w57 700

Ecclesiastes 3:12

Marginal References

  • +Ps 37:3; 1Th 5:15

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    12/15/2009, p. 19

    2/15/1997, pp. 16-17

  • Publications Index

    w09 12/15 19; w97 2/15 16-17;

    w77 123-124; g73 7/22 26; w66 196; w57 692

Ecclesiastes 3:13

Marginal References

  • +Ec 5:18, 19; Isa 65:21, 22

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    12/15/2009, p. 19

    3/1/2006, p. 17

    2/15/1997, pp. 16-17

    7/15/1989, pp. 4-7

  • Publications Index

    w09 12/15 19; w06 3/1 17; w97 2/15 16-17; w89 7/15 4-7;

    w77 123-124; g73 7/22 26; w72 206, 487; w66 196, 208; w65 67; g65 11/8 4; w57 692

Ecclesiastes 3:14

Marginal References

  • +Jer 10:7; Re 15:4

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    9/15/1987, p. 24

  • Publications Index

    w87 9/15 24;

    w79 1/1 11; w77 124

Ecclesiastes 3:15

Footnotes

  • *

    Or possibly, “what has passed away.”

Marginal References

  • +Ec 1:9

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    11/1/2006, p. 14

  • Publications Index

    w06 11/1 14;

    w77 124

Ecclesiastes 3:16

Marginal References

  • +Ps 82:2; 94:16, 21

Indexes

  • Publications Index

    w77 124

Ecclesiastes 3:17

Marginal References

  • +Ec 12:14; Ac 17:31; Ro 2:5, 6

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    10/1/1999, p. 14

  • Publications Index

    w99 10/1 14;

    w77 124

Ecclesiastes 3:18

Indexes

  • Publications Index

    w77 145; w57 692; w55 538; dh 31

Ecclesiastes 3:19

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “eventuality.”

Marginal References

  • +Job 14:10; Ps 39:5; 89:48
  • +Ge 7:22; Ps 104:29; Ec 12:7

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Insight, Volume 2, p. 1025

    The Watchtower,

    2/15/1997, pp. 10-11

    Knowledge, p. 82

    Reasoning, p. 383

  • Publications Index

    it-2 1025; w97 2/15 10-11; kl 82; rs 383;

    g80 3/22 8-9; w77 145; gh 93; ts 49-50; g73 7/22 27; g72 8/8 27; ad 1547; g67 1/8 27; im 147; w62 57; w60 183; w59 151; pa 22; w57 692; w55 538; dh 31; tf 109; w38 311

Ecclesiastes 3:20

Marginal References

  • +Ec 9:10
  • +Ge 2:7, 19
  • +Ge 3:19; Job 10:9

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Enjoy Life Forever!, lesson 29

    Awake!,

    10/2007, p. 29

    The Watchtower,

    2/15/1997, pp. 10-11

    Knowledge, p. 82

    Reasoning, p. 383

  • Publications Index

    lff lesson 29; g 10/07 29; w97 2/15 10-11; kl 82; rs 383;

    w77 145; gh 93; g73 7/22 27; g67 1/8 27; im 147; w62 57; w57 692; w55 538; dh 31

Ecclesiastes 3:21

Marginal References

  • +Ps 146:3, 4; Ec 3:19; 9:10

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Reasoning, p. 383

  • Publications Index

    rs 383;

    w77 145; w57 692; w55 538; dh 31; w48 342

Ecclesiastes 3:22

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “portion.”

Marginal References

  • +De 12:7; Ec 5:18
  • +Job 14:21; Ec 6:12

Indexes

  • Publications Index

    w77 145; w72 206; g72 9/22 16

Parallel Translations

Click a verse number to display parallel Bible verses.

General

Eccl. 3:72Sa 3:31
Eccl. 3:7Ps 39:1
Eccl. 3:71Sa 19:4; 25:23, 24; Es 4:13, 14; Ps 145:11; Pr 9:8
Eccl. 3:8Ps 139:21; Ro 12:9
Eccl. 3:9Ec 1:3; 5:15, 16
Eccl. 3:11Ge 1:31; Ro 1:20
Eccl. 3:12Ps 37:3; 1Th 5:15
Eccl. 3:13Ec 5:18, 19; Isa 65:21, 22
Eccl. 3:14Jer 10:7; Re 15:4
Eccl. 3:15Ec 1:9
Eccl. 3:16Ps 82:2; 94:16, 21
Eccl. 3:17Ec 12:14; Ac 17:31; Ro 2:5, 6
Eccl. 3:19Job 14:10; Ps 39:5; 89:48
Eccl. 3:19Ge 7:22; Ps 104:29; Ec 12:7
Eccl. 3:20Ec 9:10
Eccl. 3:20Ge 2:7, 19
Eccl. 3:20Ge 3:19; Job 10:9
Eccl. 3:21Ps 146:3, 4; Ec 3:19; 9:10
Eccl. 3:22De 12:7; Ec 5:18
Eccl. 3:22Job 14:21; Ec 6:12
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New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
Ecclesiastes 3:1-22

Ecclesiastes

3 There is an appointed time for everything,

A time for every activity under the heavens:

 2 A time for birth and a time to die;

A time to plant and a time to uproot what was planted;

 3 A time to kill and a time to heal;

A time to tear down and a time to build up;

 4 A time to weep and a time to laugh;

A time to wail and a time to dance;*

 5 A time to throw stones away and a time to gather stones together;

A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;

 6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost;

A time to keep and a time to throw away;

 7 A time to rip apart+ and a time to sew together;

A time to be silent+ and a time to speak;+

 8 A time to love and a time to hate;+

A time for war and a time for peace.

9 What does the worker gain from all his efforts?+ 10 I have seen the occupation that God has given to the sons of men to keep them occupied. 11 He has made everything beautiful* in its time.+ He has even put eternity in their heart; yet mankind will never find out the work that the true God has made from start to finish.

12 I have concluded that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good during their life,+ 13 also that everyone should eat and drink and find enjoyment for all his hard work. It is the gift of God.+

14 I have come to know that everything the true God makes will endure forever. There is nothing to add to it and nothing to subtract from it. The true God has made it this way, so that people will fear him.+

15 Whatever happens has already happened, and what is to come has already been;+ but the true God seeks what has been pursued.*

16 I have also seen this under the sun: In the place of justice there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there was wickedness.+ 17 So I said in my heart: “The true God will judge both the righteous and the wicked,+ for there is a time for every activity and every action.”

18 I also said in my heart about the sons of men that the true God will test them and show them that they are like animals, 19 for there is an outcome* for humans and an outcome for animals; they all have the same outcome.+ As the one dies, so the other dies; and they all have but one spirit.+ So man has no superiority over animals, for everything is futile. 20 All are going to the same place.+ They all come from the dust,+ and they all are returning to the dust.+ 21 Who really knows whether the spirit of humans ascends upward, and whether the spirit of animals descends down to the earth?+ 22 And I saw that there is nothing better than for a man to find enjoyment in his work,+ because that is his reward;* for who can enable him to see what will happen after he is gone?+

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