Ecclesiastes 3

1

To euery thing there is a season, and a time to euery purpose vnder the heauen.

2

A time to be borne, and a time to die: a time to plant, and a time to pluck vp that which is planted.

3

A time to kill, and a time to heale: a time to breake downe, and a time to build vp.

4

A time to weepe, and a time to laugh: a time to mourne, and a time to dance.

5

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together: a time to imbrace, and a time to refraine from imbracing.

6

A time to get, and a time to lose: a time to keepe, and a time to cast away.

7

A time to rent, and a time to sow: a time to keepe silence, and a time to speake.

8

A time to loue, and a time to hate: a time of warre, and a time of peace.

9

What profite hath hee that worketh, in that wherein he laboureth?

10

I haue seene the trauaile which God hath giuen to the sonnes of men, to be exercised in it.

11

He hath made euery thing beautifull in his time: also hee hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can finde out the worke that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

12

I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to reioyce, and to doe good in his life.

13

And also that euery man should eate and drinke, and enioy the good of all his labour: it is the gift of God.

14

I know that whatsoeuer God doeth, it shalbe for euer: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doth it, that men should feare before him.

15

That which hath beene, is now: and that which is to be, hath alreadie beene, and God requireth that which is past.

16

¶ And moreouer, I sawe vnder the Sunne the place of iudgement, that wickednesse was there; and the place of righteousnesse, that iniquitie was there.

17

I said in mine heart, God shall iudge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there, for euery purpose and for euery worke.

18

I said in my heart concerning the estate of the sonnes of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselues are beasts.

19

For that which befalleth the sonnes of men, befalleth beastes, euen one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea they haue all one breath, so that a man hath no preheminence aboue a beast; for all is vanitie.

20

All goe vnto one place, all are of the dust, and all turne to dust againe.

21

Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth vpward; and the spirit of the beast that goeth downeward to the earth?

22

Wherefore I perceiue that there is nothing better, then that a man should reioyce in his owne workes: for that is his portion; for who shall bring him to see what shalbe after him?