1 F or everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under 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;

A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;

3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

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;

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;

A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;

6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away;

7 a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to tear, 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 for war, and a time for peace.

A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace. The God-Given Task

9 W hat profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboreth?

What profit has the worker from that in which he labors?

10 I have seen the travail which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.

I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied.

11 H e hath made everything beautiful in its time: also he hath set eternity in their heart, yet so that man cannot find out the work that God hath done from the beginning even to the end.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

12 I know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to do good so long as they live.

I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives,

13 A nd also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God.

and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—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 anything taken from it; and God hath done it, that men should fear before him.

I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him.

15 T hat which is hath been long ago; and that which is to be hath long ago been: and God seeketh again that which is passed away.

That which is has already been, And what is to be has already been; And God requires an account of what is past. Injustice Seems to Prevail

16 A nd moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.

Moreover I saw under the sun: In the place of judgment, Wickedness was there; And in the place of righteousness, Iniquity was there.

17 I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

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.”

18 I said in my heart, It is because of the sons of men, that God may prove them, and that they may see that they themselves are but as beasts.

I said in my heart, “Concerning the condition of the sons of men, God tests them, that they may see that they themselves are like animals.”

19 F or 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; and man hath no preeminence above the beasts: for all is vanity.

For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity.

20 A ll go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust.

21 W ho knoweth the spirit of man, whether it goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast, whether it goeth downward to the earth?

Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth?

22 W herefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him back to see what shall be after him?

So I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?