Berean Standard Bible

Ecclesiastes 3

1To everythingלַכֹּ֖לla.KolH3605there is a seasonזְמָ֑ןze.ManH2165,and a timeוְעֵ֥תve.'EtH6256for everyלְכָל־le.kholH3605purposeחֵ֖פֶץChe.fetzH2656underתַּ֥חַתTa.chatH8478heavenהַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ סha.sha.Ma.yimH8064:

2a timeעֵ֥ת'etH6256to be bornלָלֶ֖דֶתla.Le.detH3205and a timeוְעֵ֣תve.'EtH6256to dieלָמ֑וּתla.MutH4191,a timeעֵ֣ת'etH6256to plantלָטַ֔עַתla.Ta.'atH5193and a timeוְעֵ֖תve.'EtH6256to uprootלַעֲק֥וֹר נָטֽוּעַ׃la.'a.Kor na.Tu.a'H6131 H5193,

3a timeעֵ֤ת'etH6256to killלַהֲרוֹג֙la.ha.rOgH2026and a timeוְעֵ֣תve.'EtH6256to healלִרְפּ֔וֹאlir.Po'H7495,a timeעֵ֥ת'etH6256to break downלִפְר֖וֹץlif.RotzH6555and a timeוְעֵ֥תve.'EtH6256to buildלִבְנֽוֹת׃liv.NotH1129,

4a timeעֵ֤ת'etH6256to weepלִבְכּוֹת֙liv.kOtH1058and a timeוְעֵ֣תve.'EtH6256to laughלִשְׂח֔וֹקlis.ChokH7832,a timeעֵ֥ת'etH6256to mournסְפ֖וֹדse.FodH5594and a timeוְעֵ֥תve.'EtH6256to danceרְקֽוֹד׃re.KodH7540,

5a timeעֵ֚ת'etH6256to cast awayלְהַשְׁלִ֣יךְle.hash.LikhH7993stonesאֲבָנִ֔ים'a.va.NimH68and a timeוְעֵ֖תve.'EtH6256to gatherכְּנ֣וֹסke.NosH3664stones togetherאֲבָנִ֑ים'a.va.NimH68,a timeעֵ֣ת'etH6256to embraceלַחֲב֔וֹקla.cha.VokH2263and a timeוְעֵ֖תve.'EtH6256to refrainלִרְחֹ֥קlir.ChokH7368from embracingמֵחַבֵּֽק׃me.cha.BekH2263,

6a timeעֵ֤ת'etH6256to searchלְבַקֵּשׁ֙le.va.KeshH1245and a timeוְעֵ֣תve.'EtH6256to count as lostלְאַבֵּ֔דle.'a.BedH6,a timeעֵ֥ת'etH6256to keepלִשְׁמ֖וֹרlish.MorH8104and a timeוְעֵ֥תve.'EtH6256to discardלְהַשְׁלִֽיךְ׃le.hash.LikhH7993,

7a timeעֵ֤ת'etH6256to tearלִקְר֙וֹעַ֙lik.Ro.a'H7167and a timeוְעֵ֣תve.'EtH6256to mendלִתְפּ֔וֹרlit.PorH8609,a timeעֵ֥ת'etH6256to be silentלַחֲשׁ֖וֹתla.cha.ShotH2814and a timeוְעֵ֥תve.'EtH6256to speakלְדַבֵּֽר׃le.da.BerH1696,

8a timeעֵ֤ת'etH6256to loveלֶֽאֱהֹב֙le.'e.HoH157and a timeוְעֵ֣תve.'EtH6256to hateלִשְׂנֹ֔אlis.No'H8130,a timeעֵ֥ת'etH6256for warמִלְחָמָ֖הmil.cha.MahH4421and a timeוְעֵ֥תve.'EtH6256for peaceשָׁלֽוֹם׃ סsha.LomH7965.

God’s Works Remain Forever

9Whatמַה־mah-H4100does the workerהָֽעוֹשֶׂ֔הha.'o.SehH6213בַּאֲשֶׁ֖רba.'a.SherH834gainיִּתְרוֹן֙yit.rOnH3504from hisה֥וּאhu'H1931toilעָמֵֽל׃'a.MelH6001?

10I have seenרָאִ֣יתִיra.'I.tiH7200אֶת־'et-H853the burdenהָֽעִנְיָ֗ןha.'in.YanH6045thatאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834Godאֱלֹהִ֛ים'E.lo.HimH430has laidנָתַ֧ןna.TanH5414upon the sonsלִבְנֵ֥יliv.NeiH1121of menהָאָדָ֖םha.'a.DamH120to occupyלַעֲנ֥וֹתla.'a.NotH6031them.

11אֶת־'et-H853He has madeעָשָׂ֖ה'a.SahH6213everythingהַכֹּ֥לha.KolH3605beautifulיָפֶ֣הya.PehH3303in its timeבְעִתּ֑וֹve.'i.ToH6256.He has alsoגַּ֤םgamH1571אֶת־'et-H853setנָתַ֣ןna.TanH5414eternityהָעֹלָם֙ha.'o.LamH5769in the heartsבְּלִבָּ֔םbe.li.BamH3820of men,yetמִבְּלִ֞יmi.be.LiH1097אֲשֶׁ֧ר'a.SherH834theyהָאָדָ֗םha.'a.DamH120אֶת־'et-H853cannotלֹא־lo'-H3808fathomיִמְצָ֣אyim.Tza'H4672the workהַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֛הha.ma.'a.SehH4639thatאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834Godהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.HimH430has doneעָשָׂ֥ה'a.SahH6213from beginningמֵרֹ֥אשׁme.RoshH7218toוְעַד־ve.'ad-H5704endסֽוֹף׃SofH5490.

12I knowיָדַ֕עְתִּיya.Da'.tiH3045thatכִּ֛יkiH3588there is nothingאֵ֥ין'einH369betterט֖וֹבTovH2896for themthanכִּ֣י אִם־ki 'im-H3588 H518to rejoiceלִשְׂמ֔וֹחַlis.Mo.achH8055and doוְלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתve.la.'a.SotH6213goodט֖וֹבTovH2896while they liveבְּחַיָּֽיו׃be.chai.YavH2416,

13and alsoוְגַ֤םve.GamH1571that everyכָּל־kol-H3605manהָאָדָם֙ha.'a.DamH120should eatשֶׁיֹּאכַ֣לshei.yo.KhalH398and drinkוְשָׁתָ֔הve.sha.TahH8354and findוְרָאָ֥הve.ra.'AhH7200satisfactionט֖וֹבTovH2896in allבְּכָל־be.kholH3605his laborעֲמָל֑וֹa.ma.LoH5999—this isהִֽיא׃Hi'H1931the giftמַתַּ֥תma.TatH4991of Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430.

14I knowיָדַ֗עְתִּיya.Da'.tiH3045thatכִּ֠יkiH3588everythingכָּל־kol-H3605אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834Godהָאֱלֹהִים֙ ה֚וּאha.'E.lo.Him hu'H430 H1931doesיַעֲשֶׂ֤הya.'a.SehH6213endures foreverיִהְיֶ֣ה לְעוֹלָ֔םyih.Yeh le.'o.LamH1961 H5769;nothingאֵ֣ין'einH369can be addedלְהוֹסִ֔יףle.ho.SifH3254to itעָלָיו֙'a.LavH5921or takenלִגְרֹ֑עַlig.Ro.a'H1639from itוּמִמֶּ֖נּוּ אֵ֣יןu.mi.Me.nu 'einH4480 H369.Godוְהָאֱלֹהִ֣יםve.ha.'E.lo.HimH430doesעָשָׂ֔ה'a.SahH6213itso that they should fearשֶׁיִּֽרְא֖וּshei.yir.'UH3372Himמִלְּפָנָֽיו׃mi.le.fa.NavH6440.

15What existsמַה־mah-H4100has alreadyכְּבָ֣ר ה֔וּאke.Var Hu'H3528 H1931beenשֶּֽׁהָיָה֙she.ha.YahH1961,and whatוַאֲשֶׁ֥רva.'a.SherH834will beלִהְי֖וֹתlih.YotH1961has alreadyכְּבָ֣רke.VarH3528beenהָיָ֑הha.YahH1961,for Godוְהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםve.ha.'E.lo.HimH430will call to accountיְבַקֵּ֥שׁye.va.KeshH1245אֶת־'et-H853what has passedנִרְדָּֽף׃nir.DafH7291.

From Dust to Dust

16Furthermoreוְע֥וֹדve.'odH5750,I sawרָאִ֖יתִיra.'I.tiH7200underתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478the sunהַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁha.Sha.meshH8121that in the placeמְק֤וֹםme.KomH4725of judgmentהַמִּשְׁפָּט֙ha.mish.PatH4941there isשָׁ֣מָּהSha.mahH8033wickednessהָרֶ֔שַׁעha.Re.sha'H7562,and in the placeוּמְק֥וֹםu.me.KomH4725of righteousnessהַצֶּ֖דֶקha.Tze.dekH6664there isשָׁ֥מָּהSha.mahH8033wickednessהָרָֽשַׁע׃ha.Ra.sha'H7562.

17Iאֲנִי֙'a.NiH589saidאָמַ֤רְתִּֽי'a.Mar.tiH559in my heartבְּלִבִּ֔יbe.li.BiH3820אֶת־'et-H853, “Godהָאֱלֹהִ֑יםha.'E.lo.HimH430will judgeיִשְׁפֹּ֖טyish.PotH8199the righteousהַצַּדִּיק֙ha.tza.DikH6662andוְאֶת־ve.'EtH853the wickedהָ֣רָשָׁ֔עha.ra.Sha'H7563,sinceכִּי־ki-H3588there is a timeעֵ֣ת'etH6256for everyלְכָל־le.kholH3605activityחֵ֔פֶץ וְעַ֥לChe.fetz ve.'AlH2656 H5921and everyכָּל־kol-H3605deedהַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה שָֽׁם׃ha.ma.'a.Seh ShamH4639 H8033.”

18Iאֲנִי֙'a.NiH589saidאָמַ֤רְתִּֽי'a.Mar.tiH559to myselfבְּלִבִּ֔יbe.li.BiH3820, “As forעַל־ דִּבְרַת֙'al- div.RatH5921 H1700the sonsבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of menהָאָדָ֔םha.'a.DamH120,Godהָאֱלֹהִ֑יםha.'E.lo.HimH430tests themלְבָרָ֖םle.va.RamH1305so that they may seeוְלִרְא֕וֹתve.lir.'otH7200for themselvesשְׁהֶם־she.hem-H1992that theyהֵ֖מָּהHe.mahH1992are but beastsבְּהֵמָ֥הbe.he.MahH929.”

19Forכִּי֩kiH3588the fatesמִקְרֶ֨הmik.RehH4745of both menבְֽנֵי־ הָאָדָ֜םve.nei- ha.'a.DamH1121 H120andוּמִקְרֶ֣הu.mik.RehH4745beastsהַבְּהֵמָ֗ה וּמִקְרֶ֤הha.be.he.Mah u.mik.RehH929 H4745are the sameאֶחָד֙'e.ChadH259:As oneזֶה֙zehH2088diesכְּמ֥וֹתke.MotH4194,soכֵּ֣ןkenH3651diesמ֣וֹתMotH4194the otherזֶ֔הZehH2088—they allלַכֹּ֑לla.KolH3605have the sameאֶחָ֖ד'e.ChadH259breathוְר֥וּחַve.Ru.achH7307.Manהָאָדָ֤םha.'a.DamH120has noאָ֔יִן'A.yinH369advantageוּמוֹתַ֨רu.mo.TarH4195overמִן־min-H4480the animalsהַבְּהֵמָה֙ha.be.he.MahH929,sinceכִּ֥יkiH3588everythingהַכֹּ֖לha.KolH3605is futileהָֽבֶל׃Ha.velH1892.

20Allהַכֹּ֥לha.KolH3605goהוֹלֵ֖ךְho.LekhH1980toאֶל־'el-H413oneאֶחָ֑ד'e.ChadH259placeמָק֣וֹםma.KomH4725;allהַכֹּל֙ha.KolH3605comeהָיָ֣הha.YahH1961fromמִן־min-H4480dustהֶֽעָפָ֔רhe.'a.FarH6083,and allוְהַכֹּ֖לve.ha.KolH3605returnשָׁ֥בshavH7725toאֶל־'el-H413dustהֶעָפָֽר׃he.'a.FarH6083.

21Whoמִ֣יmiH4310knowsיוֹדֵ֗עַyo.De.a'H3045if the spiritר֚וּחַRu.achH7307of manבְּנֵ֣י הָאָדָ֔םbe.Nei ha.'a.DamH1121 H120risesהָעֹלָ֥ה הִ֖יאha.'o.Lah hi'H5927 H1931upwardלְמָ֑עְלָהle.Ma.'e.lahH4605and the spiritוְר֙וּחַ֙ve.Ru.achH7307of the animalהַבְּהֵמָ֔הha.be.he.MahH929descendsהַיֹּרֶ֥דֶת הִ֖יא לְמַ֥טָּהhai.yo.Re.det hi' le.Ma.tahH3381 H1931 H4295into the earthלָאָֽרֶץ׃la.'A.retzH776?

22I have seenוְרָאִ֗יתִיve.ra.'I.tiH7200thatכִּ֣יkiH3588there is nothingאֵ֥ין'einH369betterטוֹב֙tOvH2896for a manהָאָדָם֙ha.'a.DamH120thanמֵאֲשֶׁ֨רme.'a.SherH834to enjoyיִשְׂמַ֤חyis.MachH8055his workבְּֽמַעֲשָׂ֔יוbe.ma.'a.SavH4639,becauseכִּי־ki-H3588thatה֖וּאhu'H1931is his lotחֶלְק֑וֹchel.KoH2506.Forכִּ֣יkiH3588whoמִ֤יmiH4310can bring himיְבִיאֶ֙נּוּ֙ye.vi.'E.nuH935to seeלִרְא֔וֹתlir.'otH7200whatבְּמֶ֖הbe.MehH4100will comeשֶׁיִּהְיֶ֥הshei.yih.YehH1961after himאַחֲרָֽיו׃'a.cha.RavH310?

God’s Works Remain Forever

From Dust to Dust

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 3