Ecclesiastes 3

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

For every thing there is a fixed period, and an appointed time to every thing under 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 what 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 breaking 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 stones asunder, 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 seek, 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 who laboreth from that with which he wearieth himself?

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

I have seen the business which God hath given to the sons of men to exercise themselves therewith.

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.

God maketh every thing good in its time; but he hath put the world into the heart of man, so that he understandeth not the work which God doeth, 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 nothing better for a man than that he should rejoice and enjoy good his life long.

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

But when a man eateth and drinketh, and enjoyeth good through all his labor, this 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 whatever God doeth, that shall be for ever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken from it; and God doeth it that men may 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 is, was long ago; and that which is to be, hath already been; and God recalleth 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.

Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice there was iniquity; and in the place of righteousness, iniquity.

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.

Then said I in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked.” For there shall be a time for every matter 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 my heart concerning the sons of men, that God will prove them, in order that they may see that they are like the 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: one lot befalleth both. As the one dieth, so dieth the other. Yea, there is one spirit in them, and a man hath no pre-eminence 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 to one place; all are from 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, whether it goeth upward, and the spirit of a beast, whether it 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?

And so I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his labors; for that is his portion. For who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?