Ecclesiastes 3:14
New International Version
I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.

New Living Translation
And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him.

English Standard Version
I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him.

Berean Standard Bible
I know that everything God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God does it so that they should fear Him.

King James Bible
I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

New King James Version
I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him.

New American Standard Bible
I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it. And God has so worked, that people will fear Him.

NASB 1995
I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him.

NASB 1977
I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him.

Legacy Standard Bible
I know that everything God does will be forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it—God has so worked that men should fear Him.

Amplified Bible
I know that whatever God does, it endures forever; nothing can be added to it nor can anything be taken from it, for God does it so that men will fear and worship Him [with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is God].

Christian Standard Bible
I know that everything God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. God works so that people will be in awe of him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I know that all God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. God works so that people will be in awe of Him.

American Standard Version
I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it; and God hath done it, that men should fear before him.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
I have known that everything LORD JEHOVAH does shall be for eternity; there is nothing to add to it and nothing to subtract from it, and LORD JEHOVAH works that they shall be in awe of him

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I know that whatsoever things God has done, they shall be for ever: it is impossible to add to it, and it is impossible to take away from it: and God has done it, that men may fear before him.

Contemporary English Version
Everything God has done will last forever; nothing he does can ever be changed. God has done all this, so that we will worship him.

Douay-Rheims Bible
I have learned that all the works which God hath made, continue for ever: we cannot add any thing, nor take away from those things which God hath made that he may be feared.

English Revised Version
I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God hath done it, that men should fear before him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I realize that whatever God does will last forever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing can be taken away from it. God does this so that people will fear him.

Good News Translation
I know that everything God does will last forever. You can't add anything to it or take anything away from it. And one thing God does is to make us stand in awe of him.

International Standard Version
I have concluded that everything that God undertakes will last for eternity—nothing can be added to it nor taken away from it—and that God acts this way so that people will fear him.

JPS Tanakh 1917
I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever; nothing can be added to it, nor any thing taken from it; and God hath so made it, that men should fear before Him.

Literal Standard Version
I have known that all that God does is for all time, to it nothing is to be added, and from it nothing is to be withdrawn; and God has worked that they fear before Him.

Majority Standard Bible
I know that everything God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God does it so that they should fear Him.

New American Bible
I recognized that whatever God does will endure forever; there is no adding to it, or taking from it. Thus has God done that he may be revered.

NET Bible
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.

New Revised Standard Version
I know that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; God has done this, so that all should stand in awe before him.

New Heart English Bible
I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should fear before him.

Webster's Bible Translation
I know that, whatever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be added to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

World English Bible
I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should fear before him.

Young's Literal Translation
I have known that all that God doth is to the age, to it nothing is to be added, and from it nothing is to be withdrawn; and God hath wrought that they do fear before Him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God's Works Remain Forever
13and also that every man should eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his labor—this is the gift of God. 14I know that everything God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God does it so that they should fear Him. 15What exists has already been, and what will be has already been, for God will call to account what has passed.…

Cross References
Ecclesiastes 5:7
For as many dreams bring futility, so do many words. Therefore, fear God.

Ecclesiastes 7:18
It is good to grasp the one and not let the other slip from your hand. For he who fears God will follow both warnings.

Ecclesiastes 8:12
Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence.

Ecclesiastes 8:13
Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.

Ecclesiastes 12:13
When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.


Treasury of Scripture

I know that, whatever God does, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God does it, that men should fear before him.

whatsoever

Psalm 33:11
The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

Psalm 119:90,91
Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth…

Isaiah 46:10
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

nothing

Psalm 76:10
Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

Proverbs 19:21
There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

Proverbs 21:30
There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.

God doeth it

Psalm 64:9
And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.

Isaiah 59:18,19
According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence…

Revelation 15:4
Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

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Add Added Addition Age Endure Endures Fear Forever Whatever Whatsoever Withdrawn Worked Wrought
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Add Added Addition Age Endure Endures Fear Forever Whatever Whatsoever Withdrawn Worked Wrought
Ecclesiastes 3
1. by the necessary change of times, vanity is added to human travail
11. is an excellence in God's works
16. as for man, God shall judge his works hereafter, though here he be like a beast














Verse 14. - I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever. A second thing (see ver. 12) that Koheleth knew, learned from the truths adduced in vers. 1-9, is that behind man's free action and volition stands the will of God, which orders events with a view to eternity, and that man can alter nothing of this providential arrangement (comp. Isaiah 46:10; Psalm 33:11). Nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it. We cannot hasten or retard God's designs; we cannot add to or curtail his plans. Septuagint, "It is impossible to add (οὐκ ἔστι προσθεῖναι) to it, and it is impossible to Lake away from it." Thus Ecclus. 18:6, "As for the wondrous works of the Lord, it is impossible to lessen or to add to them (οὐκ ἔστιν ἐλαττῶσαι οὐδὲ προσθεῖναι), neither can the ground of them be found out." God doeth it, that men should fear before him. There is a moral purpose in this disposal of events. Men feel this uniformity and unchangeableness in the working of Providence, and thence learn to cherish a reverential awe for the righteous government of which they are the subjects. It was this feeling which led ancient etymologists to derive Θεός and Deus from δέος, "fear" (comp. Revelation 15:3, 4). This is also a ground of hope and confidence. Amid the jarring and fluctuating circumstances of men God holds the threads, and alters not his purpose. "I the Lord change not; therefore ye, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed" (Malachi 3:6). The Vulgate is not very successful: Non possumus eis quid-quam addere, nec auferre, quae fecit Deus ut timeatur, "We cannot add anything unto, or take anything away from, those things which God hath made that he may be feared."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I know
יָדַ֗עְתִּי (yā·ḏa‘·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3045: To know

that
כִּ֠י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

everything
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

God
הָאֱלֹהִים֙ (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

does
יַעֲשֶׂ֤ה (ya·‘ă·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

will remain forever;
יִהְיֶ֣ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

nothing
אֵ֣ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

can be added
לְהוֹסִ֔יף (lə·hō·w·sîp̄)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3254: To add, augment

to it
עָלָיו֙ (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

or taken
לִגְרֹ֑עַ (liḡ·rō·a‘)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1639: To scrape off, to shave, remove, lessen, withhold

from it.
וּמִמֶּ֖נּוּ (ū·mim·men·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

God
וְהָאֱלֹהִ֣ים (wə·hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

works
עָשָׂ֔ה (‘ā·śāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

that men should revere
שֶׁיִּֽרְא֖וּ (še·yir·’ū)
Pronoun - relative | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

Him.
מִלְּפָנָֽיו׃ (mil·lə·p̄ā·nāw)
Preposition-m, Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6440: The face


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OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 3:14 I know that whatever God does it (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.)
Ecclesiastes 3:13
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