Ecclesiastes 3:7
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to rent, and a time to sow: a time to keepe silence, and a time to speake.
Narration uses the Pure Cambridge Edition.
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From verse 7
- Esther 4:13–14Rank 3 from verse 7
13Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.
14For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
13Then Mordecai commanded to answere Esther; Thinke not with thy selfe that thou shalt escape in the kings house, more then all the Iewes.
14For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there †enlargement and deliuerance arise to the Iewes from another place, but thou and thy fathers house shall be destroyed: And who knoweth, whether thou art come to the kingdome for such a time as this?
- Lamentations 3:28Rank 4 from verse 7
- Proverbs 31:8–9Rank 6 from verse 7
8Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
8†Open thy mouth for the dumbe in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
9*Open thy mouth, iudge righteously, and plead the cause of the poore and needy.
- Esther 7:4Rank 7 from verse 7
4For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king’s damage.
4For we are sold, I, and my people, †to be destroyed, to be slaine, and to perish: but if we had bene sold for bondmen, and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not counteruaile the kings dammage.
- Job 32:4–22Rank 8 from verse 7
4Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he.
5When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled.
6And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion.
7I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.
8But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
9Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.
10Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.
11Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.
12Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words:
13Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not man.
14Now he hath not directed his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches.
15They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking.
16When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still, and answered no more;)
17I said, I will answer also my part, I also will shew mine opinion.
18For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me.
19Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.
20I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.
21Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.
22For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.
4Now Elihu had †waited till Iob had spoken: because they were †elder then he.
5When Elihu saw that there was no answere in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled.
6And Elihu the sonne of Barachel the Buzite answered and sayd: I am †yong, and yee are very old, wherefore I was afraid, and †durst not shew you mine opinion.
7I said, Dayes should speake, and multitude of yeeres should teach wisedome.
8*But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almightie giueth them vnderstanding.
9Great men are not alwayes wise: neither doe the aged vnderstand iudgement.
10Therfore I sayd, Hearken to me: I also will shew mine opinion.
11Behold, I waited for your words: I gaue eare to your †reasons, whilest you searched out †what to say.
12Yea, I attended vnto you: and beholde, there was none of you that conuinced Iob, or that answered his words:
13Lest ye should say, We haue found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not man.
14Now he hath not ‖directed his words against me: neither will I answere him with your speeches.
15They were amased, they answered no more, †they left off speaking.
16When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still and answered no more.)
17I sayd, I will answere also my part, I also will shew mine opinion.
18For I am full of †matter, the †spirit within me constraineth me.
19Behold, my belly is as wine, which †hath no vent, it is ready to burst like new bottles.
20I will speake, †that I may be refreshed: I will open my lippes, and answere.
21Let me not, I pray you, accept any mans person: neither let me giue flattering titles vnto man.
22For I know not to giue flattering titles: in so doing my maker would soone take me away.
13And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
13And rent your heart and not your garments; and turne vnto the LORD your God: for he is *gracious and mercifull, slow to anger, and of great kindnesse, and repenteth him of the euill.
- Proverbs 24:11–12Rank 10 from verse 7
11If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;
12If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
11*If thou forbeare to deliuer them that are drawen vnto death, and those that are ready to be slaine:
12*If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not: doth not he that pondereth the heart, consider it? and he that keepeth thy soule, doth not he know it? and shall not hee render to euery man according to his workes?
- 1 Samuel 25:24–44Rank 11 from verse 7
24And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.
25Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.
26Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the Lord hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.
27And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord.
28I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the Lord, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.
29Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling.
30And it shall come to pass, when the Lord shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel;
31That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the Lord shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.
32¶ And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:
33And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.
34For in very deed, as the Lord God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.
35So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.
36¶ And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.
37But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.
38And it came to pass about ten days after, that the Lord smote Nabal, that he died.
39¶ And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the Lord, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the Lord hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.
40And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife.
41And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.
42And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.
43David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives.
44¶ But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David’s wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.
24And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, vpon me let this iniquitie be, and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speake in thine †audience, and heare the words of thine handmaid.
25Let not my lord, I pray thee, †regard this man of Belial, euen Nabal: for as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: But I thine handmaid saw not the yong men of my lord, whom thou didst send.
26Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liueth, and as thy soule liueth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from comming to shed blood, and from †auenging thy selfe with thine owne hand: now let thine enemies and they that secke euill to my lord, bee as Nabal.
27And now this ‖blessing which thine handmaid hath brought vnto my lord, let it euen be giuen vnto the yong men that †follow my lord.
28I pray thee, forgiue the trespasse of thine handmaide: for the LORD will certainely make my lord a sure house, because my lord fighteth the battels of the LORD, and euill hath not bene found in thee all thy dayes.
29Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seeke thy soule: but the soule of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God, and the soules of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, † as out of the middle of a sling.
30And it shall come to passe when the LORD shal haue done to my lord, according to all the good that hee hath spoken concerning thee, and shall haue appointed thee ruler ouer Israel;
31That this shall bee no †griefe vnto thee, nor offence of heart vnto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causelesse, or that my lord hath auenged himselfe: But when the LORD shall haue dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmayd.
32¶ And Dauid sayd to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me.
33And blessed bee thy aduice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from comming to shed blood, and from auenging my selfe with mine owne hand.
34For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liueth, which hath kept mee backe from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not bene left vnto Nabal, by the morning light, any that pisseth against the wall.
35So Dauid receiued of her hand that which shee had brought him, and sayd vnto her, Goe vp in peace to thine house; See, I haue hearkened to thy voyce, and haue accepted thy person.
36¶ And Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he held a feast in his house like the feast of a king; & Nabals heart was merry within him, for hee was very drunken: wherefore shee tolde him nothing, lesse or more, vntill the morning light.
37But it came to passe in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.
38And it came to passe about ten dayes after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died.
39¶ And when Dauid heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproch from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his seruant from euil: for the LORD hath returned the wickednesse of Nabal vpon his owne head. And Dauid sent, and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.
40And when the seruants of Dauid were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake vnto her, saying, Dauid sent vs vnto thee, to take thee to him to wife.
41And shee arose, and bowed her selfe on her face to the earth, and sayd, Beholde, let thine handmayd bee a seruant to wash the feet of the seruants of my lord.
42And Abigail hasted, and rose, and rode vpon an asse, with fiue damosels of hers that went †after her; and she went after the messengers of Dauid, and became his wife.
43Dauid also tooke Ahinoam *of Iezreel, and they were also both of them his wiues.
44¶ But Saul had giuen *Michal his daughter, Dauids wife, to Phalti the sonne of Laish, which was of Gallim.
- 1 Kings 21:27Rank 12 from verse 7
27And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
27And it came to passe when Ahab heard those wordes, that hee rent his clothes, and put sackecloth vpon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
- 2 Kings 5:7Rank 13 from verse 7
7And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.
7And it came to passe when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make aliue, that this man doeth send vnto me, to recouer a man of his leprosie? Wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrell against me.
- 2 Kings 6:30Rank 14 from verse 7
30¶ And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh.
30¶ And it came to passe when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes, and hee passed by vpon the wall, and the people looked, and behold, hee had sackcloth within, vpon his flesh.
- Isaiah 36:21Rank 15 from verse 7
- Luke 19:37–40Rank 16 from verse 7
37And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;
38Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
39And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
40And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
37And when he was come nigh euen now at the descent of the mount of Oliues, the whole multitude of the disciples began to reioyce and praise God with a loud voice, for all the mighty workes that they had seene,
38Saying, Blessed bee the King that commeth in the Name of the Lord, peace in heauen, and glory in the Highest.
39And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude saide vnto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
40And he answered, and said vnto them, I tell you, that if these should holde their peace, the stones would immediatly cry out.
- Psalms 39:2Rank 17 from verse 7
- 2 Samuel 1:11Rank 18 from verse 7
- 2 Samuel 3:31Rank 19 from verse 7
31¶ And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.
31¶ And Dauid said to Ioab, and to all the people that were with him, Rent your clothes, and girde you with sackecloth, and mourne before Abner. And king Dauid himselfe followed the †biere.
3And the songs of the temple shall be howlings in that day, saith the Lord God: there shall be many dead bodies in every place; they shall cast them forth with silence.
3And the †songs of the Temples shalbe howlings in that day, sayth the LORD God: there shall be many dead bodies in euery place, they shall cast them foorth †with silence.
- Genesis 37:29Rank 21 from verse 7
- Genesis 37:34Rank 22 from verse 7
- Genesis 44:18Rank 23 from verse 7
18¶ Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh.
18¶ Then Iudah came neere vnto him, and said, Oh my LORD, let thy seruant, I pray thee, speake a word in my lords eares, & let not thine anger burne against thy seruant: for thou art euen as Pharaoh.
- 1 Samuel 19:4–5Rank 24 from verse 7
4¶ And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good:
5For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the Lord wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?
4¶ And Ionathan spake good of Dauid vnto Saul his father, and said vnto him, Let not the King sinne against his seruant, against Dauid: because hee hath not sinned against thee, and because his workes haue bene to thee ward very good.
5For he did put his *life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, & the LORD wrought a great saluation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst reioyce: Wherefore then wilt thou sinne against innocent blood, to slay Dauid without a cause?
39Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
39Then Peter arose and went with them: when he was come, they brought him into the vpper chamber: And all the widowes stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while shee was with them.
- Genesis 44:34Rank 26 from verse 7
- Jeremiah 36:24Rank 27 from verse 7
- Jeremiah 8:14Rank 28 from verse 7
14Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the Lord our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the Lord.
14*‖Why doe wee sit still? assemble your selues, and let vs enter into the defenced cities, and let vs be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put vs to silence, and giuen vs waters of gall to drink, because we haue sinned against the LORD.
13So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.
13So they sate downe with him vpon the ground seuen dayes, and seuen nights, and none spake a word vnto him; for they saw that his griefe was very great.
WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE
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DEFINED WORDS
Ecclesiastes 3:7
A particular portion or part of duration, whether past, present or future.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
To tear, split, pull apart, or remove forcibly, whether literally or figuratively.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
To join or fasten by stitches.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
To guard, watch, protect, preserve, secure, retain, possess, hold, maintain, support, tend, manage, observe, obey, fulfil, celebrate, continue in, refrain from, or remain faithful to a person, place, trust, command, promise, way, time, or thing.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Absence or cessation of sound or speech; quietness, stillness, restraint from speaking, or the condition of being made unable or unwilling to answer.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: To utter words or articulate sounds, or to use a language. Sense 2: To address or converse with someone. Sense 3: To state, declare, make mention of, or otherwise make a matter known.
Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
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Surrounding Verses
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6A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
6‖A time to get, and a time to lose: a time to keepe, and a time to cast away.
7A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
7A time to rent, and a time to sow: a time to keepe silence, and a time to speake.
Selected passage8A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
8A time to loue, and a time to hate: a time of warre, and a time of peace.