Chapter 3

To every [thing there is] a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born,² and a time to die;² a time to plant,² and a time to pluck up² [that which is] planted;⁷

A time to kill,² and a time to heal;² a time to break down,² and a time to build up;²

A time to weep,² and a time to laugh;² a time to mourn,² and a time to dance;²

A time to cast away⁵³ stones, and a time to gather stones together;² a time to embrace,² and a time to refrain² from embracing;¹⁵

A time to get,¹⁵ and a time to lose;¹⁵ a time to keep,² and a time to cast away;⁵³

A time to rend,² and a time to sew;² a time to keep silence,² and a time to speak;¹⁵

A time to love,² and a time to hate;² a time of war, and a time of peace.

What profit hath he that worketh⁶ in that wherein he laboureth?

I have seen¹ the travail, which God hath given¹ to the sons of men to be exercised² in it.

He hath made¹ every [thing] beautiful in his time: also he hath set¹ the world in their heart, so that no man can find out⁴ the work that God maketh¹ from the beginning to the end.

I know¹ that [there is] no good in them, but for [a man] to rejoice,² and to do² good in his life.

And also that every man should eat⁴ and drink,¹ and enjoy¹ the good of all his labour, it [is] the gift of God.

I know¹ that, whatsoever God doeth,⁴ it shall be for ever: nothing can be put⁵³ to it, nor any thing taken² from it: and God doeth¹ [it], that [men] should fear⁴ before him.

That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth¹⁷ that which is past.¹²

And moreover I saw¹ under the sun the place of judgment, [that] wickedness [was] there; and the place of righteousness, [that] iniquity [was] there.

I said¹ in mine heart, God shall judge⁴ the righteous and the wicked: for [there is] a time there for every purpose and for every work.

I said¹ in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest² them, and that they might see² that they themselves are beasts.

For 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; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all [is] vanity.

All go⁶ unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.¹

Who knoweth⁶ the spirit of man ¹²⁰ that goeth⁶ upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth⁶ downward to the earth?

Wherefore I perceive¹ that [there is] nothing better, than that a man should rejoice⁴ in his own works; for that [is] his portion: for who shall bring⁵⁵ him to see² what shall be after him?