Ecclesiastes 3

1 To all things there is an appointed time, and a time to euery purpose vnder the heauen.

For every thing there is a fixed period, and an appointed time to every thing under heaven: —

2 A time to bee borne, and a time to die: a time to plant, and a time to plucke vp 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 slay, and a time to heale: a time to breake downe, and a time to builde.

A time to kill, and a time to heal. A time to breaking down, and a time to build up.

4 A time to weepe, and a time to laugh: a time to mourne, 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: a time to embrace, and a time to be farre 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 seeke, and a time to lose: a time to keepe, 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 rent, and a time to sowe: a time to keepe silence, and a time to speake.

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

8 A time to loue, and a time to hate: a time of warre, 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 profite hath hee that worketh of the thing wherein he trauaileth?

What profit hath he who laboreth from that with which he wearieth himself?

10 I haue seene the trauaile that God hath giuen to ye sonnes of men to humble them thereby.

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

11 He hath made euery thing beautifull in his time: also he hath set the worlde in their heart, yet can not man finde out the worke that God hath wrought from the beginning euen to the end.

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 in them, but to reioyce, and to doe good in his life.

I know that there is nothing better for a man than that he should rejoice and enjoy good his life long.

13 And also that euery man eateth and drinketh, and seeth the commoditie of all his labour. this 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 knowe that whatsoeuer God shall doe, it shalbe for euer: to it can no man adde, and from it can none diminish: for God hath done it, that they should feare 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 What is that that hath bene? that is nowe: and that that shalbe, hath now bene: for God requireth 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 moreouer I haue seene vnder the sunne the place of iudgement, where was wickednesse, and the place of iustice where was iniquitie.

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

17 I thought in mine heart, God wil iudge the iust and the wicked: for time is there for euery purpose and for euery worke.

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 considered in mine heart the state of the children of men that God had purged them: yet to see to, they are in themselues as beastes.

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 the condition of the children of men, and the condition of beasts are euen as one condition vnto them. As the one dyeth, so dyeth the other: for they haue all one breath, and there is no excellency of man aboue ye beast: for all is vanitie.

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 goe to one place, and all was of the dust, and all shall returne to the dust.

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

21 Who knoweth whether the spirit of man ascend vpward, and the spirit of the beast descend downeward 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 Therefore I see that there is nothing better then that a man shoulde reioyce in his affaires, because that is his portion. For who shall bring him to see what shalbe 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?