Ecclesiastes 3:11

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

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.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Rom 11:33 : 33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how unfathomable his ways!
  • Rom 1:19-20 : 19 because what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes– his eternal power and divine nature– have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse.
  • Eccl 8:17 : 17 then I discerned all that God has done: No one really comprehends what happens on earth. Despite all human efforts to discover it, no one can ever grasp it. Even if a wise person claimed that he understood, he would not really comprehend it.
  • Gen 1:31 : 31 God saw all that he had made– and it was very good! There was evening, and there was morning, the sixth day.
  • Deut 32:4 : 4 As for the Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are just. He is a reliable God who is never unjust, he is fair and upright.
  • Job 11:7 : 7 “Can you discover the essence of God? Can you find out the perfection of the Almighty?
  • Job 5:9 : 9 He does great and unsearchable things, marvelous things without number;
  • Matt 11:27 : 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son decides to reveal him.
  • Matt 13:22 : 22 The seed sown among thorns is the person who hears the word, but worldly cares and the seductiveness of wealth choke the word, so it produces nothing.
  • Mark 7:37 : 37 People were completely astounded and said,“He has done everything well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
  • Rom 1:28 : 28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done.
  • Ps 104:24 : 24 How many living things you have made, O LORD! You have exhibited great skill in making all of them; the earth is full of the living things you have made.
  • Eccl 7:29 : 29 This alone have I discovered: God made humankind upright, but they have sought many evil schemes.
  • Job 37:23 : 23 As for the Almighty, we cannot attain to him! He is great in power, but justice and abundant righteousness he does not oppress.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Eccl 3:8-10
    3 verses
    84%

    8A time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

    9Man is Ignorant of God’s Timing What benefit can a worker gain from his toil?

    10I have observed the burden that God has given to people to keep them occupied.

  • Eccl 3:12-15
    4 verses
    81%

    12Enjoy 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,

    13and also that everyone should eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all his toil, for these things are a gift from God.

    14God’s Sovereignty I also know that whatever God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken away from it. God has made it this way, so that men will fear him.

    15Whatever exists now has already been, and whatever will be has already been; for God will seek to do again what has occurred in the past.

  • Eccl 3:1-3
    3 verses
    79%

    1A Time for All Events in Life For everything there is an appointed time, and an appropriate time for every activity on earth:

    2A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot what was planted;

    3A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

  • Eccl 8:16-17
    2 verses
    78%

    16Limitations of Human Wisdom When I tried to gain wisdom and to observe the activity on earth– even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night–

    17then I discerned all that God has done: No one really comprehends what happens on earth. Despite all human efforts to discover it, no one can ever grasp it. Even if a wise person claimed that he understood, he would not really comprehend it.

  • Eccl 9:1
    77%

    1Everyone Will Die So I reflected on all this, attempting to clear it all up. I concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their works, are in the hand of God; whether a person will be loved or hated– no one knows what lies ahead.

  • Eccl 3:22
    76%

    22So I perceived there is nothing better than for people to enjoy their work, because that is their reward; for who can show them what the future holds?

  • Eccl 1:8-10
    3 verses
    76%

    8All this monotony is tiresome; no one can bear to describe it: The eye is never satisfied with seeing, nor is the ear ever content with hearing.

    9What exists now is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing truly new on earth.

    10Is there anything about which someone can say,“Look at this! It is new!”? It was already done long ago, before our time.

  • Eccl 3:17-19
    3 verses
    75%

    17I 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.

    18I also thought to myself,“It is for the sake of people, so God can clearly show them that they are like animals.

    19For the fate of humans and the fate of animals are the same: As one dies, so dies the other; both have the same breath. There is no advantage for humans over animals, for both are fleeting.

  • Eccl 1:13-15
    3 verses
    75%

    13I decided to carefully and thoroughly examine all that has been accomplished on earth. I concluded: God has given people a burdensome task that keeps them occupied.

    14I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man on earth, and I concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile– like chasing the wind!

    15What is bent cannot be straightened, and what is missing cannot be supplied.

  • Eccl 8:6-7
    2 verses
    75%

    6For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, for the oppression of the king is severe upon his victim.

    7Surely no one knows the future, and no one can tell another person what will happen.

  • Eccl 7:13-14
    2 verses
    75%

    13Wisdom Acknowledges God’s Orchestration of Life Consider the work of God: For who can make straight what he has bent?

    14In times of prosperity be joyful, but in times of adversity consider this: God has made one as well as the other, so that no one can discover what the future holds.

  • Eccl 2:24
    74%

    24Enjoy Work and its Benefits There is nothing better for people than to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in their work. I also perceived that this ability to find enjoyment comes from God.

  • Eccl 2:10-11
    2 verses
    74%

    10I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted; I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure. So all my accomplishments gave me joy; this was my reward for all my effort.

    11Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, I concluded:“All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless– like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth.”

  • Eccl 8:9
    73%

    9While applying my mind to everything that happens in this world, I have seen all this: Sometimes one person dominates other people to their harm.

  • Eccl 2:22
    73%

    22Painful Days and Restless Nights What does a man acquire from all his labor and from the anxiety that accompanies his toil on earth?

  • Eccl 5:20
    73%

    20For he does not think much about the fleeting days of his life because God keeps him preoccupied with the joy he derives from his activity.

  • Eccl 1:3
    73%

    3Futility Illustrated from Nature What benefit do people get from all the effort which they expend on earth?

  • Eccl 9:3
    72%

    3This is the unfortunate fact about everything that happens on earth: the same fate awaits everyone. In addition to this, the hearts of all people are full of evil, and there is folly in their hearts during their lives– then they die.

  • Eccl 6:11-12
    2 verses
    72%

    11The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes. How does that benefit him?

    12For no one knows what is best for a person during his life– during the few days of his fleeting life– for they pass away like a shadow. Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth.

  • Prov 16:4
    72%

    4The LORD has worked everything for his own ends– even the wicked for the day of disaster.

  • Eccl 5:18
    72%

    18Enjoy the Fruit of Your Labor I have seen personally what is the only beneficial and appropriate course of action for people: to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all their hard work on earth during the few days of their life which God has given them, for this is their reward.

  • Eccl 4:3-4
    2 verses
    72%

    3But better than both is the one who has not been born and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth.

    4Labor Motivated by Envy Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless– like chasing the wind.

  • Eccl 3:6
    72%

    6A time to search, and a time to give something up as lost; a time to keep, and a time to throw away;

  • Eccl 9:10
    71%

    10Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, because there is neither work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave, the place where you will eventually go.

  • Eccl 7:29
    71%

    29This alone have I discovered: God made humankind upright, but they have sought many evil schemes.

  • Eccl 2:26
    71%

    26For to the one who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, he gives the task of amassing wealth– only to give it to the one who pleases God. This task of the wicked is futile– like chasing the wind!

  • Eccl 11:9
    71%

    9Enjoy Life to the Fullest under the Fear of God Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes, but know that God will judge your motives and actions.

  • Ps 33:15
    71%

    15He is the one who forms every human heart, and takes note of all their actions.

  • Eccl 4:16
    71%

    16There is no end to all the people nor to the past generations, yet future generations will not rejoice in him. This also is profitless and like chasing the wind.

  • Eccl 8:11
    71%

    11When a sentence is not executed at once against a crime, the human heart is encouraged to do evil.

  • Eccl 2:20
    71%

    20So I began to despair about all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so hard on earth.