Ecclesiastes 3

1 All things have their season, and in their times all things pass under heaven.

For everything there is an appointed time, and a season for every purpose 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.

There is a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pull up plants,

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal. A time to destroy, and a time to build.

a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear 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.

There is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather. A time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.

a time to throw away stones and a time to gather stones, a time to embrace other people, and a time to refrain from embracing.

6 A time to get, and a time to lose. A time to keep, and a time to cast away.

There is a time to look for things and a time to stop looking, a time to keep things and a time to throw away things,

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

a time to tear clothing and a time to repair clothing, a time to keep silent and a time to speak.

8 A time of love, and a time of hatred. A time of war, and a time of peace.

There is a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

9 What hath man more of his labour?

What profit does the worker gain in his labor?

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

I have seen the work that God has given to human beings to complete.

11 He hath made all things good in their time, and hath delivered the world to their consideration, so that man cannot find out the work which God hath made from the beginning to the end.

God has made everything suitable for its own time. He has also placed eternity in their hearts. But mankind cannot understand the deeds that God has done, from their beginning all the way to their end.

12 And I have known that there was no better thing than to rejoice, and to do well in this life.

I know that there is nothing better for anyone than to rejoice and to do good so long as he lives—

13 For every man that eateth and drinketh, and seeth good of his labour, this is the gift of God.

and that everyone should eat and drink, and should understand how to enjoy the good that comes from all his work. This is a gift from God.

14 I have learned that all the works which God hath made, continue for ever: we cannot add any thing, nor take away from those things which God hath made that he may be feared.

I know that whatever God does lasts forever. Nothing can be added to it or taken away, because it is God who has done it so that people will approach him with honor.

15 That which hath been made, the same continueth: the things that shall be, have already been: and God restoreth that which is past.

Whatever exists has already existed; whatever will exist has already existed. God makes human beings seek hidden things.

16 I saw under the sun in the place of judgment wickedness, and in the place of justice iniquity.

I have seen the wickedness that is under the sun, where there should be justice, and in place of righteousness, wickedness was there.

17 And I said in my heart: God shall judge both the just and the wicked, and then shall be the time of every thing.

I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked at the right time for every matter and every deed.”

18 I said in my heart concerning the sons of men, that God would prove them, and shew them to be like beasts.

I said in my heart, “God tests human beings to show them that they are like animals.”

19 Therefore the death of man, and of beasts is one, and the condition of them both is equal: as man dieth, so they also die: all things breathe alike, and man hath nothing more than beast: all things are subject to vanity.

For the fate of the children of mankind and the fate of animals is the same fate for them. The death of one is like the death of the other. The breath is the same for all of them. There is no advantage for mankind over the animals. For is not everything just a breath?

20 And all things go to one place: of earth they were made, and into earth they return together.

Everything is going to the same place. Everything comes from the dust, and everything returns to the dust.

21 Who knoweth if the spirit of the children of Adam ascend upward, and if the spirit of the beasts descend downward?

Who knows whether the spirit of mankind goes upward and the spirit of animals goes downward into the earth?

22 And I have found that nothing is better than for a man to rejoice in his work, and that this is his portion. For who shall bring him to know the things that shall be after him?

So again I realized that there is nothing better for anyone than to take pleasure in his work, for that is his assignment. Who can bring him back to see what happens after him?