Ecclesiastes 3:9 kjv — What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

King James Version

"What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?"

— Ecclesiastes 3:9, King James Version

Read in Another Translation

5 of 21 translations

Ecclesiastes 3:9 in Other Translations

6 versions All translations

Ecclesiastes 3 — Context

6

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, 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 profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

10

I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

11

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

12

I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

Ecclesiastes 3:9 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Ecclesiastes 3:9 say?
Ecclesiastes 3:9 in the King James Version reads: “What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?”
Where is Ecclesiastes 3:9 in the Bible?
Ecclesiastes 3:9 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 3, verse 9.
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 3:9.
What translation should I read Ecclesiastes 3:9 in?
Ecclesiastes 3:9 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 3:9?
Ecclesiastes 3:9 reads (KJV): “What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?” 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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