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14 And I know this, that whatever God does is final—nothing can be added or taken from it; God’s purpose in this is that man should fear the all-powerful God.[a]

15 Whatever is has been long ago; and whatever is going to be has been before; God brings to pass again what was in the distant past and disappeared.[b]

16 Moreover, I notice that throughout the earth justice is giving way to crime, and even the police courts are corrupt.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 3:14 God’s purpose in this is that man should fear the all-powerful God, implied.
  2. Ecclesiastes 3:15 God brings to pass again what was in the distant past and disappeared, literally, “God seeks what has been driven away.”

14 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.(A)

15 Whatever is has already been,(B)
    and what will be has been before;(C)
    and God will call the past to account.[a]

16 And I saw something else under the sun:

In the place of judgment—wickedness was there,
    in the place of justice—wickedness was there.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 3:15 Or God calls back the past