Ecclesiastes 3

1 To all things there is an appointed time, and a time to euery purpose vnder the heauen.

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

2 A time to bee borne, and a time to die: a time to plant, and a time to plucke vp that which is planted.

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

3 A time to slay, and a time to heale: a time to breake downe, and a time to builde.

a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 A time to weepe, and a time to laugh: a time to mourne, 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: a time to embrace, and a time to be farre from embracing.

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

6 A time to seeke, and a time to lose: a time to keepe, 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 rent, and a time to sowe: a time to keepe silence, and a time to speake.

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

8 A time to loue, and a time to hate: a time of warre, and a time of peace.

a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

9 What profite hath hee that worketh of the thing wherein he trauaileth?

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

10 I haue seene the trauaile that God hath giuen to ye sonnes of men to humble them thereby.

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

11 He hath made euery thing beautifull in his time: also he hath set the worlde in their heart, yet can not man finde out the worke that God hath wrought from the beginning euen to the end.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man cannot find out the work that God has done from the beginning even to the end.

12 I know that there is nothing good in them, but to reioyce, and to doe good in his life.

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

13 And also that euery man eateth and drinketh, and seeth the commoditie of all his labour. this is the gift of God.

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

14 I knowe that whatsoeuer God shall doe, it shalbe for euer: to it can no man adde, and from it can none diminish: for God hath done it, that they should feare before him.

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.

15 What is that that hath bene? that is nowe: and that that shalbe, hath now bene: for God requireth that which is past.

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.

16 And moreouer I haue seene vnder the sunne the place of iudgement, where was wickednesse, and the place of iustice where was iniquitie.

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.

17 I thought in mine heart, God wil iudge the iust and the wicked: for time is there for euery purpose and for euery worke.

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.”

18 I considered in mine heart the state of the children of men that God had purged them: yet to see to, they are in themselues as beastes.

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.

19 For the condition of the children of men, and the condition of beasts are euen as one condition vnto them. As the one dyeth, so dyeth the other: for they haue all one breath, and there is no excellency of man aboue ye beast: for all is vanitie.

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.

20 All goe to one place, and all was of the dust, and all shall returne to the dust.

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

21 Who knoweth whether the spirit of man ascend vpward, and the spirit of the beast descend downeward to the earth?

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

22 Therefore I see that there is nothing better then that a man shoulde reioyce in his affaires, because that is his portion. For who shall bring him to see what shalbe after him?

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?