Ecclesiastes 3:4

Cited in 2 topics on this site.

Translations sourced from the public-domain WEB, KJV, and ASV. See all sources.

“a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;”

— WEB

“A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;”

— KJV

“a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;”

— ASV

Cross-references

Related verses via the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Romans 12:15 "Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep."
Psalms 30:5 "For his anger is but for a moment. His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning."
James 4:9 "Lament, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom."
Psalms 126:5-6 "Those who sow in tears will reap in joy."
Psalms 126:1-2 "When Yahweh brought back those who returned to Zion, we were like those who dream."
John 16:20-22 "Most certainly I tell you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turn…"
Luke 6:21-25 "Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh."
2 Corinthians 7:10 "For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world produces death."

Commentary

mourn--namely, for the dead (Gen 23:2). dance--as David before the ark (Sa2 6:12-14; Psa 30:11); spiritually (Mat 9:15; Luk 6:21; Luk 15:25). The Pharisees, by requiring sadness out of time, erred seriously.

— Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary (public domain)

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