Ecclesiastes 3:1-22
3 For everything there is an appointed time,+ even a time* for every affair under the heavens:
2 a time for birth+ and a time to die;+ a time to plant and a time to uproot what was planted;+
3 a time to kill+ and a time to heal;+ a time to break down and a time to build;+
4 a time to weep+ and a time to laugh;+ a time to wail+ and a time to skip about;+
5 a time to throw stones away+ and a time to bring stones together;+ a time to embrace+ and a time to keep away from embracing;+
6 a time to seek+ and a time to give up as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away;+
7 a time to rip apart+ and a time to sew together;+ a time to keep quiet+ 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 advantage is there for the doer in what he is working hard at?+
10 I have seen the occupation that God has given to the sons of mankind in which to be occupied.+
11 Everything he has made pretty in its time.+ Even time indefinite he has put in their heart,+ that mankind* may never find out the work that the [true] God has made from the start* to the finish.+
12 I have come to know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good during one’s life;+
13 and also that every man* should eat and indeed drink and see good for all his hard work.+ It is the gift of God.+
14 I have come to know that everything that the [true] God makes, it will prove to be to time indefinite.+ To it there is nothing to add and from it there is nothing to subtract;+ but the [true] God himself has made it,+ that people may be afraid on account of him.+
15 What has happened to be, it had already been, and what is to come to be has already proved to be;+ and the [true] God+ himself keeps seeking that which is pursued.+
16 And I have further seen under the sun the place of justice where there was wickedness and the place of righteousness where wickedness was.+
17 I myself have said in my heart:+ “The [true] God will judge both the righteous one and the wicked one,+ for there is a time for every affair and concerning every work there.”+
18 I, even I, have said in my heart with regard to the sons of mankind that the [true] God is going to select them, that they may see that they themselves are beasts.+
19 For there is an eventuality* as respects the sons of mankind and an eventuality as respects the beast, and they have the same eventuality.+ As the one dies,* so the other dies;+ and they all have but one spirit,*+ so that there is no superiority of the man over the beast, for everything is vanity.
20 All are going to one place.+ They have all come to be from the dust,*+ and they are all returning to the dust.+
21 Who is there knowing the spirit of the sons of mankind, whether it is ascending upward; and the spirit of the beast, whether it is descending downward to the earth?+
22 And I have seen that there is nothing better than that the man should rejoice in his works,+ for that is his portion; because who will bring him in to look on what is going to be after him?+
Footnotes
^ Or, “season; seasonable time.”
^ Lit., “the earthling man.” Heb., ha·ʼa·dhamʹ.
^ Lit., “head.”
^ Or, “every earthling man.” Heb., kol-ha·ʼa·dhamʹ.
^ Or, “an event.” Heb., miq·rehʹ.
^ Lit., “As this [one] dies.” Heb., kemohthʹ zeh.
^ Or, “and . . . breath.” Heb., weruʹach; Gr., pneuʹma.
