Ecclesiastes 3

1 For every thing there is a fixed period, and an appointed time to every thing under 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 what 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 breaking 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 stones asunder, 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 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 he who laboreth from that with which he wearieth himself?

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

10 I have seen the business which God hath given to the sons of men to exercise themselves therewith.

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

11 God maketh every thing good in its time; but he hath put the world into the heart of man, so that he understandeth not the work which God doeth, 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 better for a man than that he should rejoice and enjoy good his life long.

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

13 But when a man eateth and drinketh, and enjoyeth good through all his labor, this 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 whatever God doeth, that shall be for ever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken from it; and God doeth it that men may 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, was long ago; and that which is to be, hath already been; and God recalleth that which is past.

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 Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice there was iniquity; and in the place of righteousness, iniquity.

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 Then said I in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked.” For there shall be a time for every matter 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 concerning the sons of men, that God will prove them, in order that they may see that they are like the 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: one lot befalleth both. As the one dieth, so dieth the other. Yea, there is one spirit in them, and a 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 to one place; all are from the dust, and all turn to dust again.

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 a 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 And so I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his labors; 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?