Ecclesiastes 3

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

To all things there is a time, and a season for every matter 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 of birth, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what has been 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 pull 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 lament, 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 throw stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to abstain 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 be silent, and a time to speak;

8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for 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 in that he laboureth?

What advantage [has] he that works in those things wherein he labours?

10 I have seen the task which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.

I have seen all the trouble, which God has given to the sons of men to be troubled with.

11 He hath made every thing beautiful in its time; also He hath set the world in their heart, yet so that man cannot find out the work that God hath done from the beginning even to the end.

All the things which he has made are beautiful in his time: he has also set the whole world in their heart, that man might not find out the work which God has wrought from the beginning even to the end.

12 I know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to get pleasure so long as they live.

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

13 But also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy pleasure for all his labour, is the gift of God.

Also [in the case of] every man who shall eat and drink, and see good in all his labour, [this] is a gift of God.

14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever; nothing can be added to it, nor any thing taken from it; and God hath so made it, that men should fear before Him.

I know that whatsoever things God has done, they shall be for ever: it is impossible to add to it, and it is impossible to take away from it: and God has done [it], that [men] may fear before him.

15 That which is hath been long ago, and that which is to be hath already been; and God seeketh that which is pursued.

That which has been is now; and whatever things [are appointed] to be have already been; and God will seek out that which is past.

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

And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, there was the ungodly one; and the place of righteousness, there was the godly one.

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

And I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the ungodly: for there is a time there for every action and for every work.

18 I said in my heart: 'It is because of the sons of men, that God may sift them, and that they may see that they themselves are but as beasts.'

I said in my heart, concerning the speech of the sons of man, God will judge them, and that to shew that they are breasts.

19 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 man hath no pre-eminence above a beast; for all is vanity.

Also to them is the event of the sons of man, and the event of the brute; one event befalls them: as is the death of the one, so also the death of the other; and there is one breath to all: and what has the man more than the brute? nothing; 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 were formed of the dust, and all will return to dust.

21 Who knoweth the spirit of man whether it goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast whether it goeth downward to the earth?

And who has seen the spirit of the sons of man, whether it goes upward? and the spirit of the beast, whether it goes downward to the earth?

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

And I saw that there was no good, but that wherein a man shall rejoice in his works, for it is his portion, for who shall bring him to see any thing of that which shall be after him?