EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Ecclesiastes 3:14
14I know that everything that God does continues for ever. Nobody can add anything to it. Nobody can take anything away from it. God does these things so that people will respect his authority.
Ecclesiastes 3:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)I 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.
- New International Version (NIV)I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
- English Standard Version (ESV)I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him.
- New King James Version (NKJV)I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him.
Context of Ecclesiastes 3:14
12So I realized that people should be happy. They should enjoy good things as long as they live. There is nothing better for people to do than that. 13People should be happy to eat and to drink. They should enjoy the work that they do. All these things are gifts from God. I know that everything that God does continues for ever. Nobody can add anything to it. Nobody can take anything away from it. God does these things so that people will respect his authority. 15Whatever is happening now has happened before. Everything that will happen in the future has already happened. God causes the same things to happen again and again. 16I saw something else that happens on the earth. Judges should choose what is right, but instead they choose what is wicked. They should decide what is fair, but they do evil things.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 3Ecclesiastes 3:14 word by word
יָדַ֗עְתִּי כִּ֠י כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֨ר יַעֲשֶׂ֤ה הָאֱלֹהִים֙ ה֚וּא יִהְיֶ֣ה לְעוֹלָ֔ם עָלָיו֙ אֵ֣ין לְהוֹסִ֔יף וּמִמֶּ֖נּוּ אֵ֣ין לִגְרֹ֑עַ וְהָאֱלֹהִ֣ים עָשָׂ֔ה שֶׁיִּֽרְא֖וּ מִלְּפָנָֽיו׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- I knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- that, whatsoever Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- doethעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- it shall be for everעוֹלָם‛ôlâm ‛ôlâm · forever: enduringH5769
- nothingאַ֫יִן'ayin · nothingH369
- can be putיָסַףyâsaph · to addH3254
- to it, nor any thing takenגָּרַעgâra‛ · diminishH1639
- should fearיָרֵאyârê' · to fear: revereH3372
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 3:14
- Psalms 33:11But whatever the Lord decides to do will always happen. His thoughts will not change from one century to the next.
- Psalms 119:90You continue to show that people can trust you, from one century to the next. You have fixed the earth in its place, and it will remain.
- Isaiah 46:10From the beginning, I say what will happen at the end. Long ago, I spoke about future things that have not yet happened. I say this: “My purpose will not change. I will do everything that I want to do.”
- Daniel 4:34At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up towards heaven. My own mind returned to me again. I praised the powerful God above who lives for ever. I worshipped him as a great God. His kingdom will continue for ever. He will always have authority to rule.
- Acts 2:23God knew that Jesus' enemies would give him to you. God had decided that this should happen. You let people who do not obey God's Law fix him to the cross. In that way you killed him.
- Acts 4:28But you are powerful. These men did only what you said would happen. You had already decided on these events.
- Romans 11:36It is God who made all things. He also causes all things to continue. And all things are there to show how great he is. We praise him! He is great for ever! Amen. This is true!
- Ephesians 3:11This had always been God's purpose, from the beginning of all things. And it was our Lord Christ Jesus who made it happen.
- James 1:17Remember that every good gift comes to us from God. He only does what will help us. He is our Father in heaven. He made everything in the sky that gives us light. Those things do not give us the same light all the time. They change, but God does not change.
- Psalms 76:10Everybody will praise you, even those who are angry against you. You will show them how angry you really are.
- Proverbs 19:21You may have lots of ideas about what you want to do. But it is the Lord's plans that are important.
- Proverbs 21:30There is no wisdom, no knowledge and no advice that can win against the Lord.
- Proverbs 30:6Do not add anything to what God has said. If you do that, he will warn you. He will show that you are someone who tells lies.
- Acts 5:39But perhaps what they are doing really does come from God himself. If that is true, then you cannot stop them. You might even find that you are fighting against God!’
- Psalms 64:9People will be afraid. They will say, ‘Look at what God has done!’ They will think carefully about it all.
- Isaiah 59:18He will punish his enemies for the bad things that they have done. He will be very angry with them. He will punish all his enemies, even those who live in lands far away.
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 3:14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever - לעולם leolam, for eternity; in reference to that grand consummation of men and things intimated in Ecclesiastes 3:11. God has produced no being that he intends ultimately to destroy. He made every thing in reference to eternity; and, however matter may be changed and refined, animal and intellectual beings shall not be deprived of their existence. The brute creation shall be restored, and all human…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14The last clause of this verse goes beyond a declaration of the fact of God‘s government of the world Ecclesiastes 2:26 by adding the moral effect which that fact is calculated to produce on those who see it. It is the first indication of the practical conclusion Ecclesiastes 12:13 of the book.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-15Verses 11-15 Every thing is as God made it; not as it appears to us. We have the world so much in our hearts, are so taken up with thoughts and cares of worldly things, that we have neither time nor spirit to see God's hand in them. The world has not only gained possession of the heart, but has formed thoughts against the beauty of God's works. We mistake if we think we were born for ourselves; no, it is our business to do good in this life, which is…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14Understanding that God's actions are final is a reason to respect and trust him. We should honor and value all that he does.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. (1Sa 3:12; 2Sa 23:5; Psa 89:34; Mt 24:35; Jas 1:17). for ever--as opposed to man's perishing labors (Ec 2:15-18). any thing taken from it--opposed to man's "crooked and wanting" works (Ec 1:15; 7:13). The event of man's labors depends wholly on God's immutable purpose. Man's part, therefore, is to do and enjoy every earthly thing in its proper season (Ec 3:12, 13), not setting aside God's order, but observing deep reverence towards God; for the…Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 3:14
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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