Ecclesiastes 3

1 For everything there is an appointed time, and a season for every purpose under heaven.

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 pull up plants,

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 tear 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 There is 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 stones, a time to embrace other people, and a time to refrain 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 There is a time to look for things and a time to stop looking, a time to keep things and a time to throw away things,

a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 a time to tear clothing and a time to repair clothing, a time to keep silent and a time to speak.

a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 There is a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

9 What profit does the worker gain in his labor?

What profit has he who works in that in which he labours?

10 I have seen the work that God has given to human beings to complete.

I have seen the burden which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.

11 God has made everything suitable for its own time. He has also placed eternity in their hearts. But mankind cannot understand the deeds that God has done, from their beginning all the way to their end.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man can’t find out the work that God has done from the beginning even to the end.

12 I know that there is nothing better for anyone than to rejoice and to do good so long as he lives—

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

13 and that everyone should eat and drink, and should understand how to enjoy the good that comes from all his work. This is a gift from God.

Also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labour, is the gift of God.

14 I know that whatever God does lasts forever. Nothing can be added to it or taken away, because it is God who has done it so that people will approach him with honor.

I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should fear before him.

15 Whatever exists has already existed; whatever will exist has already existed. God makes human beings seek hidden things.

That which is has been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago. God seeks again that which is passed away.

16 I have seen the wickedness that is under the sun, where there should be justice, and in place of righteousness, wickedness was there.

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 at the right time for every matter and every deed.”

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, “God tests human beings to show them that they are like animals.”

I said in my heart, “As for the sons of men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals.

19 For the fate of the children of mankind and the fate of animals is the same fate for them. The death of one is like the death of the other. The breath is the same for all of them. There is no advantage for mankind over the animals. For is not everything just a breath?

For that which happens to the sons of men happens to animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the other dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage over the animals, for all is vanity.

20 Everything is going to the same place. Everything comes from the dust, and everything returns to the dust.

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

21 Who knows whether the spirit of mankind goes upward and the spirit of animals goes downward into the earth?

Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth?”

22 So again I realized that there is nothing better for anyone than to take pleasure in his work, for that is his assignment. Who can bring him back to see what happens after him?

Therefore I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his works, for that is his portion; for who can bring him to see what will be after him?