1 T o everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens:

To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or 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 up 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 together, 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 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;

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.

A time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

9 W hat profit hath he that worketh from that wherein he laboureth?

What profit remains for the worker from his toil?

10 I have seen the travail that God hath given to the sons of men to toil in.

I have seen the painful labor and exertion and miserable business which God has given to the sons of men with which to exercise and busy themselves.

11 H e hath made everything beautiful in its time; also he hath set the world in their heart, so that man findeth not out from the beginning to the end the work that God doeth.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in men’s hearts and minds, yet so that men cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

12 I know that there is nothing good for them but to rejoice and to do well in their life;

I know that there is nothing better for them than to be glad and to get and do good as long as they live;

13 y ea also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labour, it 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 whatever God doeth, it shall be for ever; there is nothing to be added to it, nor anything to be taken from it; and God doeth, that should fear before him.

I know that whatever God does, it endures forever; nothing can be added to it nor anything taken from it. And God does it so that men will fear Him.

15 T hat which is was long ago, and that which is to be hath already been; and God bringeth back again that which is past.

That which is now already has been, and that which is to be already has been; and God seeks that which has passed by.

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

Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice there was wickedness, and that in the place of righteousness wickedness was there also.

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 will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and purpose and for every work.

18 I said in my heart, It is thus with the children of men, that God may prove them, and that they should see that they themselves are but beasts.

I said in my heart regarding the subject of the sons of men, God is trying (separating and sifting) them, that they may see that by themselves they are but like beasts.

19 F or what befalleth the children of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other, and they have all one breath; and man hath no pre-eminence above the beast: for all is vanity.

For that which befalls the sons of men befalls beasts; even one thing befalls them both. As the one dies, so dies the other. Yes, they all have one breath and spirit, so that a man has no preeminence over a beast; for all is vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility)!

20 A ll go unto one place: all are of the dust, and all return to dust.

All go to one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

21 W ho knoweth the spirit of the children of men? Doth it go upwards? and the spirit of the beasts, doth it go downwards to the earth?

Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the beast, whether it goes downward to the earth?

22 A nd I have seen that there is nothing better than that man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion; for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

So I saw 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 back to see what will happen after he is gone?