1 ¶ For all things there is a season, and every will under the heaven has its time determined.

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 does the one that works have in that in which he labours?

What profit remains for the worker from his toil?

10 I have seen the travail which God has given to the sons of men that they may be occupied in it.

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 ¶ He has made every thing beautiful in his time: even the world he has given over to their will, in such a way that no man can attain to this work that God makes from the beginning to the end.

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 have learned that there is nothing better for them, but to rejoice and to do good in his 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 A nd also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of 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 have understood that whatever God does, it shall be for ever; nothing can be added to it, nor any thing taken from it because God does it that men 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 has been is now, and that which is to be has already been and God shall seek 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 ¶ And moreover I saw under the sun that instead of judgment, there was wickedness; and instead of righteousness, that iniquity 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 shall judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time determined to judge every will and regarding everything that is done.

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 concerning the estate of the sons of men that God might manifest them and that they might see that they themselves are beasts one to another.

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 that which befalls the sons of men befalls beasts; even one thing befalls them: as the one dies, so dies the other; and they all have one breath; so that a man has no more breath than a 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 shall turn to dust again.

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

21 W ho knows that the spirit of the sons of men goes upward and that the spirit of the beast goes downward 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 T herefore I perceive 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 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?