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Scripture · Old Testament

Ecclesiastes 3:7

Ecclesiastes 3:7 is verse 7 of Ecclesiastes chapter 3, shown here in the Berean Standard Bible.

Berean Standard Bible

a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

BSB source and public domain terms

King James Version

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

World English Bible

a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

Read in context

Ecclesiastes 3:5–9 · Berean Standard Bible

5 a time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6 a time to search and a time to count as lost, a time to keep and a time to discard,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

9 What does the worker gain from his toil?

Read all of Ecclesiastes 3

Hebrew words

Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Study Ecclesiastes 3:7

Read the commentary on Ecclesiastes 3

Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

Genesis 37:29

When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes,

Genesis 37:34

Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days.

2 Samuel 1:11

Then David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and all the men who were with him did the same.

2 Samuel 3:31

Then David ordered Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the funeral bier.

1 Kings 21:27

When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around meekly.

2 Kings 5:7

When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and asked, “Am I God, killing and giving life, that this man expects me to cure a leper? Surely you can see that he is seeking a quarrel with me!”

2 Kings 6:30

When the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes. And as he passed by on the wall, the people saw the sackcloth under his clothes next to his skin.

Jeremiah 36:24

Yet in hearing all these words, the king and his servants did not become frightened or tear their garments.

Joel 2:13

So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.

Acts 9:39

So Peter got up and went with them. On his arrival, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

Job 2:13

Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights, but no one spoke a word to him because they saw how intense his suffering was.

Psalms 39:2

I was speechless and still; I remained silent, even from speaking good, and my sorrow was stirred.

Isaiah 36:21

But the people remained silent and did not answer a word, for Hezekiah had commanded, “Do not answer him.”

Jeremiah 8:14

Why are we just sitting here? Gather together, let us flee to the fortified cities and perish there, for the LORD our God has doomed us. He has given us poisoned water to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.

Lamentations 3:28

Let him sit alone in silence, for God has disciplined him.

Amos 5:13

Therefore, the prudent keep silent in such times, for the days are evil.

Amos 8:3

“In that day,” declares the Lord GOD, “the songs of the temple will turn to wailing. Many will be the corpses, strewn in silence everywhere!”

Micah 7:5

Do not rely on a friend; do not trust in a companion. Seal the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms.

Genesis 44:18

Then Judah approached Joseph and said, “Sir, please let your servant speak personally to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, for you are equal to Pharaoh himself.

Genesis 44:34

For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the misery that would overwhelm him.”

1 Samuel 19:4

Then Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul and said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David; he has not sinned against you. In fact, his actions have been highly beneficial to you.

1 Samuel 19:5

He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?”

1 Samuel 25:24

She fell at his feet and said, “My lord, may the blame be on me alone, but please let your servant speak to you; hear the words of your servant.

1 Samuel 25:25

My lord should pay no attention to this scoundrel Nabal, for he lives up to his name: His name means Fool, and folly accompanies him. I, your servant, did not see my lord’s young men whom you sent.

1 Samuel 25:26

Now, my lord, as surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, the LORD has held you back from coming to bloodshed and avenging yourself with your own hand. May your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be like Nabal.

1 Samuel 25:27

Now let this gift your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow you.

1 Samuel 25:28

Please forgive your servant’s offense, for the LORD will surely make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because he fights the LORD’s battles. May no evil be found in you as long as you live.

1 Samuel 25:29

And should someone pursue you and seek your life, then the life of my lord will be bound securely by the LORD your God in the bundle of the living. But He shall fling away the lives of your enemies like stones from a sling.

1 Samuel 25:30

When the LORD has done for my lord all the good He promised, and when He has appointed you ruler over Israel,

1 Samuel 25:31

then my lord will have no remorse or guilt of conscience over needless bloodshed and revenge. And when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, may you remember your maidservant.”

1 Samuel 25:32

Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me this day!

1 Samuel 25:33

Blessed is your discernment, and blessed are you, because today you kept me from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand.

1 Samuel 25:34

Otherwise, as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, then surely no male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by morning light.”

1 Samuel 25:35

Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him, and he said to her, “Go home in peace. See, I have heeded your voice and granted your request.”

1 Samuel 25:36

When Abigail returned to Nabal, there he was in the house, holding a feast fit for a king, in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing until morning light.

1 Samuel 25:37

In the morning when Nabal was sober, his wife told him about these events, and his heart failed within him and he became like a stone.

1 Samuel 25:38

About ten days later, the LORD struck Nabal dead.

1 Samuel 25:39

On hearing that Nabal was dead, David said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has upheld my cause against the reproach of Nabal and has restrained His servant from evil. For the LORD has brought the wickedness of Nabal down upon his own head.” Then David sent word to Abigail, asking for her in marriage.

1 Samuel 25:40

When his servants came to Abigail at Carmel, they said, “David has sent us to take you as his wife.”

1 Samuel 25:41

She arose, then bowed facedown and said, “Here is your maidservant, ready to serve and to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.”

1 Samuel 25:42

So Abigail hurried and got on a donkey, and attended by five of her maidens, she followed David’s messengers and became his wife.

1 Samuel 25:43

David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel. So she and Abigail were both his wives.

1 Samuel 25:44

But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Palti son of Laish, who was from Gallim.

Esther 4:13

he sent back to her this reply: “Do not imagine that because you are in the king’s palace you alone will escape the fate of all the Jews.

Esther 4:14

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Esther 7:4

For my people and I have been sold out to destruction, death, and annihilation. If we had merely been sold as menservants and maidservants, I would have remained silent, because no such distress would justify burdening the king.”

Job 32:4

Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because the others were older than he.

Job 32:5

But when he saw that the three men had no further reply, his anger was kindled.

Job 32:6

So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite declared: “I am young in years, while you are old; that is why I was timid and afraid to tell you what I know.

Job 32:7

I thought that age should speak, and many years should teach wisdom.

Job 32:8

But there is a spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.

Job 32:9

It is not only the old who are wise, or the elderly who understand justice.

Job 32:10

Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; I too will declare what I know.’

Job 32:11

Indeed, I waited while you spoke; I listened to your reasoning; as you searched for words,

Job 32:12

I paid you full attention. But no one proved Job wrong; not one of you rebutted his arguments.

Job 32:13

So do not claim, ‘We have found wisdom; let God, not man, refute him.’

Job 32:14

But Job has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your arguments.

Job 32:15

Job’s friends are dismayed, with no more to say; words have escaped them.

Job 32:16

Must I wait, now that they are silent, now that they stand and no longer reply?

Job 32:17

I too will answer; yes, I will declare what I know.

Job 32:18

For I am full of words, and my spirit within me compels me.

Job 32:19

Behold, my belly is like unvented wine; it is about to burst like a new wineskin.

Job 32:20

I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and respond.

Job 32:21

I will be partial to no one, nor will I flatter any man.

Job 32:22

For I do not know how to flatter, or my Maker would remove me in an instant.

Proverbs 24:11

Rescue those being led away to death, and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter.

Proverbs 24:12

If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?

Proverbs 31:8

Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.

Proverbs 31:9

Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.

Luke 19:37

And as He approached the descent from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of disciples began to praise God joyfully in a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen:

Luke 19:38

“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Luke 19:39

But some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples!”

Luke 19:40

“I tell you,” He answered, “if they remain silent, the very stones will cry out.”

Acts 4:20

For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

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