Ecclesiastes 3
1 For everything there is an appointed time, and a season for every purpose under heaven.
He taima ano kua takoto mo nga mea katoa, me te wa mo nga meatanga katoa i raro i te rangi:
2 There is a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pull up plants,
He wa e whanau ai, he wa e mate ai; he wa e whakato ai, he wa e hutia ai te mea i whakatokia;
3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build up.
He wa e patu ai, he wa e rongoa ai; he wa e wawahi iho ai, he wa e hanga ake ai;
4 There is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
He wa e tangi ai, he wa e kata ai; he wa e aue ai, he wa e kanikani ai;
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.
He wa e akiritia atu ai nga kohatu, he wa e kohikohia ai nga kohatu; he wa e awhi ai, he wa e kore ai e awhi;
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,
He wa e rapu ai, he wa e ngaro ai; he wa e tiaki ai; he wa e akiri atu ai;
7 a time to tear clothing and a time to repair clothing, a time to keep silent and a time to speak.
He wa e haehae ai, he wa e tuitui ai; he wa e whakarongo puku ai, he wa e korero ai;
8 There is a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
He wa e aroha ai, he wa e mauahara ai; he wa e whawhai ai, he wa e mau ai te rongo.
9 What profit does the worker gain in his labor?
He aha te pai ki te kaimahi i tana mea i mauiui ai ia?
10 I have seen the work that God has given to human beings to complete.
Kua kite ahau i te raruraru e homai ana e te Atua ki nga tama a te tangata hei whakararu i a ratou.
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.
I hanga e ia nga mea katoa kia ataahua i tona wa ano: a i whakanohoia e ia te ao ki o ratou ngakau, engari kia kaua te tangata e kite i ta te Atua mahi i mahi ai, mai i te timatanga a taea noatia te mutunga.
12 I know that there is nothing better for anyone than to rejoice and to do good so long as he lives—
E mohio ana ahau kahore he mea pai atu mo ratou i te ngakau hari, i te mahi i te pai i a ratou e ora ana.
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.
A he mea hoki na te Atua kia kai nga tangata katoa, kia inu, kia kite ano hoki i te pai o to ratou mauiui katoa.
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.
E mohio ana ahau ko nga mea katoa e hanga ana e te Atua, ka mau tonu a ake ake: e kore tetahi mea e honoa mai, e kore ano hoki tetahi wahi e tangohia atu: i meatia hoki e te Atua kia wehi ai nga tangata i tona aroaro.
15 Whatever exists has already existed; whatever will exist has already existed. God makes human beings seek hidden things.
Ko to mua mea koia ano tenei inaianei; na, ko te mea e puta mai a mua kua puta noa ake; e rapua ana ano e te Atua te mea onamata.
16 I have seen the wickedness that is under the sun, where there should be justice, and in place of righteousness, wickedness was there.
Na i kitea ano e ahau i raro i te ra, ko te wahi o te whakawa i reira ia te kino; a ko te wahi o te tika ko te kino i reira.
17 I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked at the right time for every matter and every deed.”
Ka mea ahau i roto i toku ngakau, Tera e whakawakia e te Atua te tangata tika raua ko te tangata kino: no te mea kua takoto te wa i reira mo nga meatanga katoa, mo nga mahi katoa.
18 I said in my heart, “God tests human beings to show them that they are like animals.”
I mea ahau i roto i toku ngakau, Na te mea mo nga tama a te tangata, he mea na te Atua hei whakaatu i a ratou, kia kite ai ratou he pera noa iho ratou i te kararehe.
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?
Ko te mea hoki e pa ana ki nga tama a te tangata, e pa ana ki nga kararehe; kotahi tonu te mea e pa ana ki a ratou; ko te matenga o tetahi rite tonu ki te matenga o tetahi; ae ra, kotahi tonu ano manawa o ratou katoa; kihai hoki te tangata i hip a ake i te kararehe; he horihori hoki te katoa.
20 Everything is going to the same place. Everything comes from the dust, and everything returns to the dust.
E haere ana te katoa ki te wahi kotahi; no te puehu nei te katoa, ka hoki ano te katoa ki te puehu.
21 Who knows whether the spirit of mankind goes upward and the spirit of animals goes downward into the earth?
Ko wai e matau ana ki te wairua o te tangata, e haere ana ranei ki runga, ki te wairua ranei o te kararehe, mehemea ranei e heke iho ana ki raro ki te whenua?
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?
Na ka kite ahau kahore he pai nui atu i tenei, ara kia koa te tangata ki ana mahi; ko te wahi hoki tera mana: ma wai ia e whakahoki mai, e mea kia kite i nga mea e puta mai i muri i a ia?
