Ecclesiastes 3:15 — Compare Translations

27 translations compared side by side

That which is now already has been, and that which is to be already has been; and God seeks that which has passed by [so that history repeats itself].

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

That which is now already has been, and that which is to be already has been; and God seeks that which has passed by [so that history repeats itself].

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

What exists has already been, and what will be has already been, for God will call to account what has passed.

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

Whatever is, has already been, and whatever will be, already is. However, God seeks justice for the persecuted.

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

That which is was long ago, and that which is to be hath already been; and God bringeth back again that which is past.

English EASY 2024

Whatever is happening now has happened before. Everything that will happen in the future has already happened. God causes the same things to happen again and again.

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

What happened in the past has happened, and what will happen in the future will happen. But God wants to help those who have been treated badly.

That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.

English GNT (Good News Translation)

Whatever happens or can happen has already happened before. God makes the same thing happen again and again.

English God's Word - GW 1995

Whatever has happened {in the past} is present now. Whatever is going to happen {in the future} has already happened {in the past}. God will call the past to account.

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

Whatever is, has already been, and whatever will be, already is. God repeats what has passed.

English KJV 1611

That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

English LSB

That which is has been already and that which will be has already been, yet God seeks what is pursued.

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

That which is, has already been, and what is to come, has already been; and God seeks out what has gone by.

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

That which is has been already and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by.

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

What now is has already been; what is to be, already is; and God restores what would otherwise be displaced.

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

Whatever 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.

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

Everything that now exists has already been. And what is coming has existed before. God will judge those who treat others badly.

English NIV

Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.

English NKJ 1982

That which is has already been, And what is to be has already been; And God requires an account of what is past.

English NLT

Whatever exists today and whatever will exist in the future has already existed in the past. For God calls each event back in its turn.

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already is; and God seeks out what has gone by.

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

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.

English Tyndale 1537

The thing that hath been, is now: and the thing that is for to come, hath been afore time, for God restoreth again the thing that was past.