Skip to content
ArticlesBibleBooksOpen the app

Ecclesiastes 3:19

Verse 19 of 22. The 3rd of 12 chapters in Ecclesiastes, in Poetry and Wisdom.

15That which is has been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago. God seeks again that which is passed away.

16Moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.

17I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”

18I said in my heart, “As for the sons of men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals.

19For that which happens to the sons of men happens to animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the other dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage over the animals, for all is vanity.

20All go to one place. All are from the dust, and all turn to dust again.

21Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth?”

22Therefore I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his works, for that is his portion; for who can bring him to see what will be after him?

Read Ecclesiastes 3

World English Bible. Public domain. Set as prose throughout, including the poetry, because the text is published to us without its lines.