Ecclesiastes 8:6

Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.

Cross-reference

Ecclesiastes 3:1's statement that everything has its season directly reinforces Ecclesiastes 8:6's claim that every matter has a proper time and procedure.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 reveals God's timing as beautiful and purposeful, adding hope that the proper time in 8:6 is part of a divine plan.

Ecclesiastes 3:17 explicitly states a time for judgment, linking the 'proper time' in 8:6 to God's eventual justice.

Ecclesiastes 7:14 directly addresses both good and bad times from God, reinforcing that the proper time in 8:6 includes adversity.

Ecclesiastes 12:1 warns to remember God before 'days of trouble' come, connecting the proper time in 8:6 to urgency of youthful devotion.

Ecclesiastes 7:13 emphasizes God's unchangeable order ('who can straighten what He made crooked?'), explaining the reason for misery in 8:6.

Ecclesiastes 11:9 applies proper time to youth and joy, adding that judgment comes — parallel to 'every matter' in 8:6.

In Luke 17:26-30, Jesus uses Noah and Lot to illustrate sudden judgment—echoing that there is an appointed time for judgment though people are unaware.

In Luke 19:42-44, Jesus laments that Jerusalem did not recognize the time of visitation—a specific instance of the principle that there is a proper time and judgment.

Job 24:1 Related theme

In Job 24:1, Job questions why God does not set times for judgment—highlighting the tension between the assertion of a proper time and its hiddenness.

Isaiah 3:11-14 shows God's proper time includes judgment on the wicked, specifying sins of leaders — expanding the general 'every matter' in 8:6.

Isaiah 22:12-14 contrasts the proper response to God's call for weeping with the people's revelry, showing failure to recognize the proper time for sorrow.

In Hebrews 3:7-11, the warning not to harden hearts highlights the urgency of responding today—the 'time' for decision is now, before judgment.