Ecclesiastes 3:15 Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.

◄ Ecclesiastes 3:15 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.

English Standard Version
That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.

New American Standard Bible
That which is has been already and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by.

King James Bible
That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Whatever is, has already been, and whatever will be, already is. God repeats what has passed.

International Standard Version
That which was, now is; and that which will be, already is; and God examines what has already taken place.

American Standard Version
That which is hath been long ago; and that which is to be hath long ago been: and God seeketh again that which is passed away.

Douay-Rheims Bible
That which hath been made, the same continueth: the things that shall be, have already been: and God restoreth that which is past.

Darby Bible Translation
That which is was long ago, and that which is to be hath already been; and God bringeth back again that which is past.

Young's Literal Translation
What is that which hath been? already it is, and that which is to be hath already been, and God requireth that which is pursued.

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

3:11-15 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 short and uncertain; we have but little time to be doing good, therefore we should redeem time. Satisfaction with Divine Providence, is having faith that all things work together for good to them that love him. God doeth all, that men should fear before him. The world, as it has been, is, and will be. There has no change befallen us, nor has any temptation by it taken us, but such as is common to men.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

15. Resumption of Ec 1:9. Whatever changes there be, the succession of events is ordered by God's "everlasting" laws (Ec 3:14), and returns in a fixed cycle.

requireth that … past—After many changes, God's law requires the return of the same cycle of events, as in the past, literally, "that which is driven on." The Septuagint and Syriac translate: "God requireth (that is, avengeth) the persecuted man"; a transition to Ec 3:16, 17. The parallel clauses of the verse support English Version.