Ecclesiastes 3:17

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

I said in my heart, 'God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work.'

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

אָמַ֤רְתִּֽי אֲנִי֙ בְּלִבִּ֔י אֶת־הַצַּדִּיק֙ וְאֶת־הָ֣רָשָׁ֔ע יִשְׁפֹּ֖ט הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים כִּי־עֵ֣ת לְכָל־חֵ֔פֶץ וְעַ֥ל כָּל־הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה שָֽׁם׃

Transliteration

ʾāmartî ʾănî in-libbî ʾeṯ-the-ṣaddîq wə-ʾeṯ-the-rāšāʿ yišpōṭ the-ʾĕlōhîm for-ʿēt to-every-ḥēp̄eṣ wə-upon every-the-maʿăśeh there

Grammar Details

• *ʾāmartî*: verb, qal perfect, 1st person singular - I said
• *ʾănî*: personal pronoun, 1st person singular - I
• *bə*: preposition - in
• *libbî*: noun, masculine singular + 1st person singular suffix - my heart
• *ʾeṯ*: direct object marker
• *ha-ṣaddîq*: definite article + adjective/noun, masculine singular - the righteous
• *wə*: conjunction - and
• *hā-rāšāʿ*: definite article + adjective/noun, masculine singular - the wicked
• *yišpōṭ*: verb, qal imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular - he will judge
• *hā-ʾĕlōhîm*: definite article + noun, masculine plural (with singular meaning) - God
• *kî*: conjunction - for/because
• *ʿēt*: noun, feminine singular - time
• *lə*: preposition - to/for
• *kol*: adjective - every/all
• *ḥēp̄eṣ*: noun, masculine singular - matter/purpose/desire
• *ʿal*: preposition - upon/over/concerning
• *ha-maʿăśeh*: definite article + noun, masculine singular - the deed/work
• *šām*: adverb - there

Word Meanings

• *ʾāmartî*: I said/told/declared
• *libbî*: my heart/mind/inner self
• *ṣaddîq*: righteous person/just one
• *rāšāʿ*: wicked person/evil one
• *yišpōṭ*: will judge/govern/vindicate
• *ʿēt*: time/season/proper time
• *ḥēp̄eṣ*: purpose/matter/desire/delight
• *maʿăśeh*: deed/work/action

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

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

• King James Version 1611 (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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  I 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.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  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.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Then thought I in my mynde: God shal separate the rightuous from the vngodly, & then shal be the tyme & iudgmet of all councels & workes.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  I thought in mine heart, God wil iudge the iust and the wicked: for time is there for euery purpose and for euery worke.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Then thought I in my mynde, God shall separate the ryghteous from the vngodly: and then shalbe the tyme and iudgement of all counsayles & workes.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  I 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."

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  I said in my heart, `The righteous and the wicked doth God judge, for a time `is' to every matter and for every work there.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  I 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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  I 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.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  I said in my heart, God will be judge of the good and of the bad; because a time for every purpose and for every work has been fixed by him.

• World English Bible (2000)

  I 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."

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  I thought to myself,“God will judge both the righteous and the wicked; for there is an appropriate time for every activity, and there is a time of judgment for every deed.

Referenced Verses

• Matt 16:27 : 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will repay each person according to what they have done.
• Eccl 3:1 : 1 There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.
• 2 Cor 5:10 : 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
• 2 Thess 1:6-9 : 6 Since it is just for God to repay those who trouble you with affliction, 7 and to give relief to you who are troubled, along with us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his powerful angels. 8 In flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might. 10 On that day, when He comes to be glorified among His saints and marveled at by all who have believed—because our testimony to you was believed.
• Rom 2:5-9 : 5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will repay each person according to their deeds. 7 To those who seek glory, honor, and immortality by persistence in doing good, He will give eternal life. 8 But to those who are self-seeking, who disobey the truth and obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does what is evil, first for the Jew, then also for the Gentile. 10 But glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, first for the Jew, then also for the Gentile.
• Gen 18:25 : 25 'Far be it from You to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?'
• Ps 98:9 : 9 Before the LORD, for He is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.
• Eccl 12:14 : 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
• Jer 29:10-11 : 10 This is what the LORD says: When seventy years for Babylon are complete, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you—this is the LORD's declaration—plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
• Dan 11:40 : 40 At the time of the end, the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm against him with chariots, horsemen, and many ships. He will invade countries, sweeping through them like a flood.
• Dan 12:4 : 4 But you, Daniel, close up the words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will go here and there, and knowledge will increase.
• Dan 12:9 : 9 He replied, "Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end."
• Dan 12:11-13 : 11 From the time the daily sacrifice is taken away and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is the one who waits and reaches the end of the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. 13 But as for you, go your way until the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days, you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.
• Eccl 1:16 : 16 I said to myself, 'Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled Jerusalem before me. I have experienced much wisdom and knowledge.'
• Eccl 2:1 : 1 I said to myself, 'Come now, I will test you with pleasure to see what is good.' But behold, this too was meaningless.
• 1 Cor 4:5 : 5 Therefore, do not judge anything before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will disclose the motives of hearts. At that time, each person will receive praise from God.
• Eccl 8:6 : 6 For every purpose there is a proper time and procedure, though the misery of mankind weighs heavily upon them.
• Eccl 11:9 : 9 Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart be glad in the days of your prime. Follow the ways of your heart and the sights of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
• Matt 25:31-46 : 31 When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels are with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them from one another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in; 36 I was naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ 40 The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it for me.’ 41 Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not take me in; I was naked, and you did not clothe me; I was sick and in prison, and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not serve you?’ 45 Then he will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’ 46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
• John 5:22 : 22 'For the Father judges no one, but He has entrusted all judgment to the Son.'
• John 5:26-29 : 26 For just as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son also to have life in Himself. 27 And He has given Him authority to execute judgment because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not be amazed at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice. 29 And they will come out: those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.
• Acts 1:7 : 7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority."
• Acts 17:31 : 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.
• 2 Pet 3:7-8 : 7 But by the same word, the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and the destruction of ungodly people. 8 But do not let this one thing escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.
• Rev 11:2-3 : 2 But exclude the outer court of the temple and do not measure it, because it has been given to the nations, and they will trample on the holy city for forty-two months. 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.
• Rev 11:18 : 18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come. The time has come to judge the dead and to reward Your servants the prophets, the saints, and those who fear Your name, both small and great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.
• Rev 17:12-17 : 12 The ten horns you saw are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom, but they will receive authority as kings for one hour along with the beast. 13 These kings have one purpose, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful. 15 Then he said to me, 'The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.' 16 The ten horns you saw, and the beast, will hate the prostitute. They will leave her desolate and naked, devour her flesh, and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His purpose by agreeing to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.
• Rev 20:2 : 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.
• Rev 20:7-9 : 7 When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison. 8 He will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and gather them for battle. Their number is like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the beloved city. But fire came down from heaven and consumed them.
• Rev 20:11-15 : 11 Then I saw a great white throne and the one seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them. Each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
• 1 Thess 5:1 : 1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need for anything to be written to you.