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 an appointed time, and a time to euery purpose vnder the heauen.
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 bee borne, and a time to die: a time to plant, and a time to plucke vp 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 slay, and a time to heale: a time to breake downe, and a time to builde.
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to weepe, and a time to laugh: a time to mourne, 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: a time to embrace, and a time to be farre 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 seeke, and a time to lose: a time to keepe, 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 rent, and a time to sowe: a time to keepe silence, and a time to speake.
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
A time to loue, and a time to hate: a time of warre, and a time of peace.
9 What profit hath [now] he that worketh in that wherein he toileth?
What profite hath hee that worketh of the thing wherein he trauaileth?
10 I have seen the employment, which God hath given to the sons of men to busy themselves therewith.
I haue seene the trauaile that God hath giuen to ye sonnes of men to humble them thereby.
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 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.
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 good in them, but to reioyce, and to doe 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.
And also that euery man eateth and drinketh, and seeth the commoditie of all his labour. this 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 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.
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.
What is that that hath bene? that is nowe: and that that shalbe, hath now bene: for God requireth 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 moreouer I haue seene vnder the sunne the place of iudgement, where was wickednesse, and the place of iustice where was iniquitie.
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 thought in mine heart, God wil iudge the iust and the wicked: for time is there for euery purpose and for euery worke.
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 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.
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 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.
20 Every thing goeth unto one place: every thing came from the dust, and every thing returneth to the dust.
All goe to one place, and all was of the dust, and all shall returne to the 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?
Who knoweth whether the spirit of man ascend vpward, and the spirit of the beast descend downeward 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?
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?
