Ecclesiastes 3

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

For everything there is an appointed time, and a season for every purpose 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;

There is a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pull up plants,

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 tear 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;

There is 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 stones, a time to embrace other people, and a time to refrain from embracing.

6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

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,

7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

a time to tear clothing and a time to repair clothing, a time to keep 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.

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

9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

What profit does the worker gain in his labor?

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

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

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

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.

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 nothing better for anyone than to rejoice and to do good so long as he lives—

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

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.

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

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.

15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

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

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.

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

17 I said in mine heart, God shall 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 at the right time for every matter and every deed.”

18 I said in mine 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, “God tests human beings to show them that they are like animals.”

19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all [is] vanity.

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?

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

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

21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

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

22 Wherefore 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?

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?