Skip to reading
Atomic Bible
Ecclesiastes 3:15
What exists has already been, and what will be has already been, for God will call to account what has passed.
from God’s Works Remain Forever, Ecclesiastes 3:9-15
What it says

What is and what will be have already been, and God calls the past to account.

What it is doing

This verse affirms God's sovereignty over recurring history.

In context

9What does the worker gain from his toil? 10I have seen the burden that God has laid upon the sons of men to occupy them. 11He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work that God has done from beginning to end. 12I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good while they live, 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.