Ecclesiastes 3

1 To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens:

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance;

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

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;

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 seek, and a time to lose; A time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

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

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

8 A time to love, and a time to hate; A time of war, and a time of peace.

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

9 What profit hath he that worketh from that wherein he laboureth?

What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

10 I have seen the travail that God hath given to the sons of men to toil in.

I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

11 He hath made everything beautiful in its time; also he hath set the world in their heart, so that man findeth not out from the beginning to the end the work that God doeth.

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set eternity in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

12 I know that there is nothing good for them but to rejoice and to do well in their life;

I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

13 yea also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labour, it is the gift of God.

And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

14 I know that whatever God doeth, it shall be for ever; there is nothing to be added to it, nor anything to be taken from it; and God doeth [it], that [men] should fear before him.

I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

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

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

16 And moreover I saw under the sun, that in the place of judgment, wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, wickedness was there.

And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.

17 I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

18 I said in my heart, It is thus with the children of men, that God may prove them, and that they should see that they themselves are but beasts.

I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

19 For what befalleth the children of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other, and they have all one breath; and man hath no pre-eminence above the beast: for all is vanity.

For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.

20 All go unto one place: all are of the dust, and all return to dust.

All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

21 Who knoweth the spirit of the children of men? Doth it go upwards? and the spirit of the beasts, doth it go downwards to the earth?

Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

22 And I have seen that there is nothing better than that man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion; for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?