Ecclesiastes 3

1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:

For every thing there is a season; and a [proper] time is for every pursuit under the heavens.

2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

[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;

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 break 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 mourn, and a time to dance;

5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

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;

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 let things be lost; a time to keep, and a time to throw away;

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

8 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 of war, and a time of peace.

9 What profit has he who works in that in which he labors?

What profit hath [now] he that worketh in that wherein he toileth?

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

I have seen the employment, which God hath given to the sons of men to busy themselves therewith.

11 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.

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.

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

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.

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

For also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy what is good for all his toil, is likewise a gift of God.

14 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.

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.

15 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.

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.

16 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.

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.

17 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.”

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].

18 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.

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.

19 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.

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.

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

Every thing goeth unto one place: every thing came from the dust, and every thing returneth to the dust.

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

Who knoweth the spirit of the sons of man that ascendeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that descendeth downward to the earth?

22 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?

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?