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Ecclesiastes 3
1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose
under the 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 get, 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;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of
peace.
9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men
to be exercised in it.
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.
12 I know that there is no good in them, but 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 labour, it is the gift of 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.
15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath
already been; and God requireth 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.
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.
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.
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.
20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust
again.
21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit
of the beast that goeth downward to 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?
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