Ecclesiastes 3:8 nasb — A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.

NASB

"A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace."

— Ecclesiastes 3:8, NASB

Read in Another Translation

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Ecclesiastes 3:8 in Other Translations

7 versions All translations

Ecclesiastes 3 — Context

5

A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.

6

A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away.

7

A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak.

8

A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.

9

What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils?

10

I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves.

11

He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.

Ecclesiastes 3:8 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Ecclesiastes 3:8 say?
Ecclesiastes 3:8 in the NASB reads: “A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.”
Where is Ecclesiastes 3:8 in the Bible?
Ecclesiastes 3:8 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 3, verse 8.
Who wrote Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes is traditionally attributed to Solomon (traditional; identified as "the Preacher, son of David"). It was written c. 940 BC.
What is the book of Ecclesiastes about?
Ecclesiastes is a candid meditation on life "under the sun" — its pleasures, its pains, and its apparent vanity. The Preacher tries wisdom, wealth, work, and pleasure, finds them all empty without God, and concludes that fearing God and keeping his commandments is the whole of man.
What are the major themes of Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes explores themes including Vanity, Time, Meaning, Fear of God, Mortality. These themes shape the meaning and context of Ecclesiastes 3:8.
What translation should I read Ecclesiastes 3:8 in?
Ecclesiastes 3:8 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Ecclesiastes 3:8?
Ecclesiastes 3:8 reads (NASB): “A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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