Ecclesiastes 3
1 For every thing there is a season; and a [proper] time is for every pursuit under the heavens.
To all things there is a time, and a season for every matter 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 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 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 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 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 be silent, 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 of war, and a time of peace.
9 What profit hath [now] he that worketh in that wherein he toileth?
What advantage [has] he that works in those things wherein he labours?
10 I have seen the employment, which God hath given to the sons of men to busy themselves therewith.
I have seen all the trouble, which God has given to the sons of men to be troubled with.
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.
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 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 no good in them, except [for a man] to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
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.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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, 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].
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 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, 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 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.
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 Every thing goeth unto one place: every thing came from the dust, and every thing returneth to the dust.
All [go] to one place; all were formed of the dust, and all will return to dust.
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?
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 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?
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?
