Ecclesiastes 3

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

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

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 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 tear 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.

There is 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 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 seeke, and a time to lose: a time to keepe, 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 rent, and a time to sowe: a time to keepe silence, and a time to speake.

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

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

What profit does the worker gain in his labor?

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

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

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 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 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 anyone than to rejoice and to do good so long as he lives—

13 And also that euery man eateth and drinketh, and seeth the commoditie of all 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 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 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 What is that that hath bene? that is nowe: and that that shalbe, hath now bene: for God requireth that which is past.

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

16 And moreouer I haue seene vnder the sunne the place of iudgement, where was wickednesse, and the place of iustice where was iniquitie.

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

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.

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 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, “God tests human beings to show them that they are like animals.”

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

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

21 Who knoweth whether the spirit of man ascend vpward, and the spirit of the beast descend downeward to the earth?

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

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?