Ecclesiastes 3:15

In 11 translations

BSB

What exists has already been, and what will be has already been, for God will call to account what has passed.

KJV

That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.that which is past: Heb. that which is driven away

WEB

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

ASV

That which is hath been long ago; and that which is to be hath long ago been: and God seeketh again that which is passed away.

LSV

What is that which has been? Already it is, and that which [is] to be has already been, and God requires that which is pursued.

YLT

What is that which hath been? already it is, and that which [is] to be hath already been, and God requireth that which is pursued.

DBY

That which is was long ago, and that which is to be hath already been; and God bringeth back again that which is past.Elohim

DRC

That which hath been made, the same continueth: the things that shall be, have already been: and God restoreth that which is past.

GNV

What is that that hath bene? that is nowe: and that that shalbe, hath now bene: for God requireth that which is past.

JPS

That which is hath been long ago, and that which is to be hath already been; and God seeketh that which is pursued.

LXXE

That which has been is now; and whatever things are appointed to be have already been; and God will seek out that which is past.

Word by word Hebrew · tap a word

Words in brackets are English the glossers added; the Hebrew has no word for them, and they can carry a choice of tense or meaning.

Original-language editions

WLC

מַה־שֶּֽׁהָיָה֙ כְּבָ֣ר ה֔וּא וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר לִהְי֖וֹת כְּבָ֣ר הָיָ֑ה וְהָאֱלֹהִ֖ים יְבַקֵּ֥שׁ אֶת־נִרְדָּֽף׃

LXX-Br

Τὸ γενόμενον ἤδη ἐστί, καὶ ὅσα τοῦ γίνεσθαι ἤδη γέγονε, καὶ ὁ Θεὸς ζητήσει τὸν διωκόμενον.

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People, places and events the Theographic dataset links to this verse.

In the reference works topics that cite this verse

From public-domain Bible dictionaries and topical indexes (1884–1915).

Cross-references most cited first

• Ecclesiastes 1:9–10What has been will be again, and what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a case where one can say, “Look, this is new”? It has already existed in the ages before us.
• Ecclesiastes 6:10Whatever exists was named long ago, and what happens to a man is foreknown; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he.

From the OpenBible.info cross-reference set (votes from readers; not every link is a quotation or allusion).