Ecclesiastes 3

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

To all things there is a time, and a season for every matter under heaven.

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;

A time of birth, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what has 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 pull 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 lament, 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 stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to abstain from embracing;

6 A time to get, and a time to lose; 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 keep silence, and a time to speak;

a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, 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 has he that works in that wherein he labors?

What advantage [has] he that works in those things wherein he labours?

10 I have seen the travail, which God has given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

I have seen all the trouble, which God has given to the sons of men to be troubled with.

11 He has made every thing beautiful in his time: also he has set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God makes from the beginning to the end.

All the things which he has made are beautiful in his time: he has also set the whole world in their heart, that man might not find out the work which God has wrought from the beginning even to the end.

12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

I know that there is no good in them, except [for a man] to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

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

Also [in the case of] every man who shall eat and drink, and see good in all his labour, [this] is a gift of God.

14 I know that, whatever God does, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God does it, that men should fear before him.

I know that whatsoever things God has done, they shall be for ever: it is impossible to add to it, and it is impossible to take away from it: and God has done [it], that [men] may fear before him.

15 That which has been is now; and that which is to be has already been; and God requires that which is past.

That which has been is now; and whatever things [are appointed] to be have already been; and God will seek out that which is past.

16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.

And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, there was the ungodly one; and the place of righteousness, there was the godly one.

17 I said in my heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

And I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the ungodly: for there is a time there for every action and for every work.

18 I said in my heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

I said in my heart, concerning the speech of the sons of man, God will judge them, and that to shew that they are breasts.

19 For that which befalls the sons of men befalls beasts; even one thing befalls them: as the one dies, so dies the other; yes, they have all one breath; so that a man has no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.

Also to them is the event of the sons of man, and the event of the brute; one event befalls them: as is the death of the one, so also the death of the other; and there is one breath to all: and what has the man more than the brute? nothing; for all is vanity.

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

All [go] to one place; all were formed of the dust, and all will return to dust.

21 Who knows the spirit of man that goes upward, and the spirit of the beast that goes downward to the earth?

And who has seen the spirit of the sons of man, whether it goes upward? and the spirit of the beast, whether it goes downward to the earth?

22 Why I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

And I saw that there was no good, but that wherein a man shall rejoice in his works, for it is his portion, for who shall bring him to see any thing of that which shall be after him?