Ecclesiastes 3

1 For, every thing, there is a season, —and a time for every pursuit, under the heavens: —

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

2 A time to be born, and a time to die, —A time to plant, and a time to uproot what 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 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 wail, and a time to dance for joy;

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 heap up stones, —A time to embrace, and a time to be far from loving embrace;

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 seek, and a time to give up as lost, —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 be silent, and a time to speak;

a time to tear, 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 of war, 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 profit hath he that worketh, in that wherein, himself, hath toiled?

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

10 I looked at the employment which God hath given to the sons of men, to work therein:

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

11 Everything, hath he made beautiful in its own time, —also, intelligence, hath he put in their heart, without which men could not find out the work which God hath wrought, from the beginning even unto the end.

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.

12 I know that there is no blessedness in them, —save to be glad, and to do well with one’s life.

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

13 Though indeed, that any man should eat and drink, and see blessedness, in all his toil, it is, the gift of God.

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

14 I know, that, whatsoever God doeth, the same, shall be age-abiding, unto it, there is nothing to add, and, from it, there is nothing to take away, —and, God, hath done it, that men should stand in awe 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 That which was, already, had been, and, that which shall be, already, shall have been, —but, God, seeketh that which hath been chased away.

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 Then, again, I saw under the sun, the place of justice, that there was lawlessness, and, the place of righteousness, that there was lawlessness.

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 Said, I, in my heart, Both the righteous and the lawless, will God judge, —for [there will be] a time for every pursuit, and concerning every work—there.

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 Said, I, in my heart, as concerning the sons of men, That God was minded to prove them, —and that they might see, that they were beasts, of themselves.

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, as regardeth the destiny of the sons of men and the destiny of beasts, one fate, have they, as dieth the one, so, dieth the other, and, one spirit, have they all, —and, the pre-eminence of man over beast, is nothing, for, all, were vanity:

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, go unto one place, —all, came from the dust, and all, return to the dust.

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

21 Who knoweth the spirit of the sons of men, whether it, ascendeth, above, —or the spirit of the beast, whether it, descendeth, below, 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 So I saw, that there was nothing better than that a man should be glad in his works, for, that, is his portion, —for who can bring him in, to look upon that which shall be 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?