Ecclesiastes 3
1 For everything there is a season, and a time 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 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
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 break 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 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 cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, 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 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
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, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, 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 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 has he who works in that in which he labours?
He aha te pai ki te kaimahi i tana mea i mauiui ai ia?
10 I have seen the burden which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.
Kua kite ahau i te raruraru e homai ana e te Atua ki nga tama a te tangata hei whakararu i a ratou.
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.
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 them than to rejoice, and to do good as long as they live.
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 Also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labour, is the gift of 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, 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”
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, “As for the sons of men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves 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 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.
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 All go to one place. All are from the dust, and all turn to dust again.
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 the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to 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 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?
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?
