Ecclesiastes 3

1 For every thing there is a season; and a [proper] time is for every pursuit under the heavens.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:

2 [There is] a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what hath been planted;

a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which 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 break 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 throw away stones, and a time to gather up stones; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embracing;

a time to cast away stones, 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 let things be lost; a time to keep, and a time to throw 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 for war, and a time for peace.

9 What profit hath [now] he that worketh in that wherein he toileth?

What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboreth?

10 I have seen the employment, which God hath given to the sons of men to busy themselves therewith.

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

11 Every thing hath he made beautiful in its [proper] time: he hath also placed the eternity in their heart, without a man's being able to find out the work that God hath made from the beginning to the end.

He hath made everything beautiful in its time: also he hath set eternity in their heart, yet so that man cannot find out the work that God hath done from the beginning even to the end.

12 I know that there is nothing good [inherent] in them, but for every one to rejoice and to do what is good during [all] his life.

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

13 For also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy what is good for all his toil, is likewise a gift of God.

And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God.

14 I know that whatsoever God doth, that will be for ever; to it nothing can be added, and from it there is nothing to be diminished: and God hath so made it, that men should be afraid of him.

I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it; and God hath done it, that men should fear before him.

15 That which hath been hath long since appeared [again]; and what is to be hath already been; and God seeketh [again] that which is sped away.

That which is hath been long ago; and that which is to be hath long ago been: and God seeketh again that which is passed away.

16 And moreover I have seen under the sun, [that in] the place of justice, even there was wickedness; and [that in] the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness.

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.

17 I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time for every pursuit; and on account of every deed there [will he judge].

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.

18 I said in my heart concerning the speaking of the sons of men, that God might make it clear to them, and that they might see that they by themselves are but beasts.

I said in my heart, [It is] because of the sons of men, that God may prove them, and that they may see that they themselves are [but as] beasts.

19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even the same thing befalleth them; as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one kind of spirit: so that the preeminence of man above the beast is nought; for all is vanity.

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; and man hath no preeminence above the beasts: for all is vanity.

20 Every thing goeth unto one place: every thing came from the dust, and every thing returneth to the dust.

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

21 Who knoweth the spirit of the sons of man that ascendeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that descendeth downward to the earth?

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

22 And so did I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion; for who can bring him to look with pleasure on what will be after him?

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