3:1 To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heavens: |
3:2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; |
3:3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; |
3:4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; |
3:5 A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; |
3:6 A time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; |
3:7 A time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; |
3:8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. |
3:9 What profit does he have who works in that in which he labors? |
3:10 I have seen the task which God has given to the sons of men to be exercised by it. |
3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time; He has also set eternity in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God makes from the beginning to the end. |
3:12 I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice and to do good as long as they live. |
3:13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God. |
3:14 I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God does it so that men should fear before Him. |
3:15 That which has been is now; and that which is to be has already been; and God requires an account of that which is past. |
3:16 And again I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there. |
3:17 I said in my heart, "God shall judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work." |
3:18 I said in my heart, "Concerning the matter of the sons of men, may God reveal to them, that they might see, that they themselves are but beasts." |
3:19 For that which happens to the sons of men also happens to beasts—even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so dies the other; yea, they all have one breath; so that a man has no advantage over a beast; for all is vanity. |
3:20 All go to one place; all are of the dust, and all return to dust again. |
3:21 Who knows the spirit of man whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the beast whether it goes downward to the earth? |
3:22 Therefore I perceive that there is nothing better that a man should do than to rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion; for who can bring him to see what shall be after him? |