3
1 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 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;
4 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;
6 a
time to seek,
and a time
to lose;
a time to
keep,
and a time
to cast away;
7 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 for
war,
and a time
for peace.
9 What
profit has he
who works in
that in which
he labors?
10 I
have seen
the burden which God
has given to
the sons of
men to be
afflicted with.
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.
12 I
know that there
is nothing better
for them than
to rejoice, and
to do good
as long as they
live.
13 Also
that every
man should eat and
drink, and enjoy
good in all
his labor, is
the gift of God.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
20 All
go to one
place. All are
from the dust,
and all turn
to dust again.
21 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 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?