GOD BRINGS INTO JUDGMENT
Key verse: 22
NIV
16 And I saw something else under the sun:
In the place of judgment—wickedness was there,
in the place of justice—wickedness was there.
17 I said to myself,
“God will bring into judgment(A)
both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
a time to judge every deed.”(B)
18 I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals.(C) 19 Surely the fate of human beings(D) is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath[a]; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. 20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.(E) 21 Who knows if the human spirit rises upward(F) and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”
22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work,(G) because that is their lot.(H) For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 3:19 Or spirit
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
From Dust to Dust
16 Moreover, (A)I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even (B)there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness. 17 I said in my heart, (C)God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is (D)a time for every matter and for every work. 18 I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but (E)beasts. 19 (F)For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity.[a] 20 All go to one place. All are from (G)the dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows whether (H)the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth? 22 So I saw that there is (I)nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for (J)that is his lot. Who can bring him to see (K)what will be after him?
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ecclesiastes 3:19 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)
Cross references
- Ecclesiastes 3:16 : ch. 4:1
- Ecclesiastes 3:16 : ch. 5:8; [ch. 4:1]
- Ecclesiastes 3:17 : Matt. 16:27; 2 Cor. 5:10; See Rom. 2:6-11; 2 Thess. 1:6-10
- Ecclesiastes 3:17 : ver. 1; ch. 8:6
- Ecclesiastes 3:18 : Ps. 49:12, 20; 73:22
- Ecclesiastes 3:19 : See ch. 2:14
- Ecclesiastes 3:20 : ch. 12:7; Gen. 3:19
- Ecclesiastes 3:21 : [ch. 12:7]
- Ecclesiastes 3:22 : See ch. 2:24
- Ecclesiastes 3:22 : See ch. 2:10
- Ecclesiastes 3:22 : ch. 2:19; 6:12; 8:7; 10:14
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
Prayer: Lord, all things are from you. Help me to enjoy the toil and work you have given me.
One Word: Enjoy your work!