Ecclesiastes 3

1 For, every thing, there is a season, —and a time for every pursuit, under the heavens: —

For every thing there is a fixed period, and an appointed time to every thing under heaven: —

2 A time to be born, and a time to die, —A time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted;

A time to be born, and a time to die. A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what 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 breaking down, and a time to build up.

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh, —A time to wail, and a time to dance for joy;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh. A time to mourn, and a time to dance.

5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to heap up stones, —A time to embrace, and a time to be far from loving embrace;

A time to cast stones asunder, 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 give up as lost, —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 be silent, 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 of war, and a time of peace.—

9 What profit hath he that worketh, in that wherein, himself, hath toiled?

What profit hath he who laboreth from that with which he wearieth himself?

10 I looked at the employment which God hath given to the sons of men, to work therein:

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

11 Everything, hath he made beautiful in its own time, —also, intelligence, hath he put in their heart, without which men could not find out the work which God hath wrought, from the beginning even unto the end.

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.

12 I know that there is no blessedness in them, —save to be glad, and to do well with one’s life.

I know that there is nothing better for a man than that he should rejoice and enjoy good his life long.

13 Though indeed, that any man should eat and drink, and see blessedness, in all his toil, it is, the gift of God.

But when a man eateth and drinketh, and enjoyeth good through all his labor, this is the gift of God.

14 I know, that, whatsoever God doeth, the same, shall be age-abiding, unto it, there is nothing to add, and, from it, there is nothing to take away, —and, God, hath done it, that men should stand in awe before him.

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.

15 That which was, already, had been, and, that which shall be, already, shall have been, —but, God, seeketh that which hath been chased away.

That which is, was long ago; and that which is to be, hath already been; and God recalleth that which is past.

16 Then, again, I saw under the sun, the place of justice, that there was lawlessness, and, the place of righteousness, that there was lawlessness.

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

17 Said, I, in my heart, Both the righteous and the lawless, will God judge, —for [there will be] a time for every pursuit, and concerning every work—there.

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.

18 Said, I, in my heart, as concerning the sons of men, That God was minded to prove them, —and that they might see, that they were beasts, of themselves.

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.

19 For, as regardeth the destiny of the sons of men and the destiny of beasts, one fate, have they, as dieth the one, so, dieth the other, and, one spirit, have they all, —and, the pre-eminence of man over beast, is nothing, for, all, were vanity:

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.

20 all, go unto one place, —all, came from the dust, and all, return to the dust.

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

21 Who knoweth the spirit of the sons of men, whether it, ascendeth, above, —or the spirit of the beast, whether it, descendeth, below, to the earth?

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

22 So I saw, that there was nothing better than that a man should be glad in his works, for, that, is his portion, —for who can bring him in, to look upon that which shall be after him?

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?