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?
