Ecclesiastes 3:9 net — Man is Ignorant of God’s Timing What benefit can a worker gain from his toil?

NET Bible

"Man is Ignorant of God’s Timing What benefit can a worker gain from his toil?"

— Ecclesiastes 3:9, NET Bible

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Ecclesiastes 3:9 in Other Translations

6 versions All translations

Ecclesiastes 3 — Context

6

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

7

A time to rip, and a time to sew; a time to keep 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

Man is Ignorant of God’s Timing What benefit can a worker gain from his toil?

10

I have observed the burden that God has given to people to keep them occupied.

11

God has made everything fit beautifully in its appropriate time, but he has also placed ignorance in the human heart so that people cannot discover what God has ordained, from the beginning to the end of their lives.

12

Enjoy Life in the Present I have concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they live,

Ecclesiastes 3:9 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Ecclesiastes 3:9 say?
Ecclesiastes 3:9 in the NET Bible reads: “Man is Ignorant of God’s Timing What benefit can a worker gain from his toil?”
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 (NET): “Man is Ignorant of God’s Timing What benefit can a worker gain from his toil?” 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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