Ecclesiastes 3
- 1
To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: Begin Abide·
- 2
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, Begin Abide·
- 3
a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build, Begin Abide·
- 4
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, Begin Abide·
- 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, Begin Abide·
- 6
a time to search and a time to count as lost, a time to keep and a time to discard, Begin Abide·
- 7
a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, Begin Abide·
- 8
a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. Begin Abide·
- 9
What does the worker gain from his toil? Begin Abide·
- 10
I have seen the burden that God has laid upon the sons of men to occupy them. Begin Abide·
- 11
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work that God has done from beginning to end. Begin Abide·
- 12
I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good while they live, Begin Abide·
- 13
and also that every man should eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his labor—this is the gift of God. Begin Abide·
- 14
I know that everything God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God does it so that they should fear Him. Begin Abide·
- 15
What exists has already been, and what will be has already been, for God will call to account what has passed. Begin Abide·
- 16
Furthermore, I saw under the sun that in the place of judgment there is wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness. Begin Abide·
- 17
I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked, since there is a time for every activity and every deed.” Begin Abide·
- 18
I said to myself, “As for the sons of men, God tests them so that they may see for themselves that they are but beasts.” Begin Abide·
- 19
For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so dies the other—they all have the same breath. Man has no advantage over the animals, since everything is futile. Begin Abide·
- 20
All go to one place; all come from dust, and all return to dust. Begin Abide·
- 21
Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and the spirit of the animal descends into the earth? Begin Abide·
- 22
I have seen that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will come after him? Begin Abide·