31 To everything—a season, and a time to every delight under the heavens: 2 A time to bring forth, And a time to die. A time to plant, And a time to eradicate the planted. 3 A time to slay, And a time to heal, A time to break down, And a time to build up. 4 A time to weep, And a time to laugh. A time to mourn, And a time to skip. 5 A time to cast away stones, And a time to heap up stones. A time to embrace, And a time to be far from embracing. 6 A time to seek, And a time to destroy. A time to keep, And a time to cast away. 7 A time to rend, And a time to sew. A time to be silent, And a time to speak. 8 A time to love, And a time to hate. A time of war, And a time of peace. 9 What advantage hath the doer in that which he is labouring at? 10 I have seen the travail that God hath given to the sons of man to be humbled by it.
11 The whole He hath made beautiful in its season; also, that knowledge He hath put in their heart without which man findeth not out the work that God hath done from the beginning even unto the end. 12 I have known that there is no good for them except to rejoice and to do good during their life, 13 yea, even every man who eateth and hath drunk and seen good by all his labour, it 'is' a gift of God. 14 I have known that all that God doth is to the age, to it nothing is to be added, and from it nothing is to be withdrawn; and God hath wrought that they do fear before Him. 15 What is that which hath been?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.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:1-15
Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:1-10
(Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-10)
To expect unchanging happiness in a changing world, must end in disappointment. To bring ourselves to our state in life, is our duty and wisdom in this world. God's whole plan for the government of the world will be found altogether wise, just, and good. Then let us seize the favourable opportunity for every good purpose and work. The time to die is fast approaching. Thus labour and sorrow fill the world. This is given us, that we may always have something to do; none were sent into the world to be idle.
Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:11-15
(Read Ecclesiastes 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.