Ecclesiastes 3:17 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

I said to myself, 'God will judge both the righteous and the wicked, because there is an appointed time for every purpose and every deed.'

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

The writer is declaring that God will ultimately judge all people—both good and evil—because He has set specific times for all His purposes to be fulfilled.

📚 Historical Context

This verse comes from King Solomon's philosophical reflections on life's meaning and God's sovereignty over time. Solomon was writing during Israel's golden age around 950 BC, observing both the injustices he witnessed in his kingdom and his deep conviction that God remains in control. This follows his famous passage about there being 'a time for everything' and reflects his struggle with seeing wickedness seem to prosper while righteousness sometimes suffers.

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May the LORD reward every person according to their righteousness and faithfulness. The LORD put you in my power today, but I refused to harm the LORD's chosen one.

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