Ecclesiastes 3

A Time for Everything

1 Everything has its season, and every purpose its time under heaven.

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to harvest.

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build up.

4 A time to cry, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

5 A time to throw stones, and a time to gather them; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain.

6 A time to search, and a time to give up; a time to keep, and a time to throw away.

7 A time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak.

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

The Mystery of God’s Timing

9 What do workers gain from their toil,

10 I have seen the burden God laid on men to keep them busy.

11 He made everything beautiful in its time. He also put eternity in people’s hearts, yet they cannot fully grasp His plan.

12 There is nothing better than for people to be happy and do good while they live.

13 To eat, drink, and enjoy your work, this is God’s gift.

14 Everything God does lasts forever; nothing added, nothing taken away. He does it so people will fear Him.

15 What is has already been, and what will be has already been. God repeats what is past.

The Injustice of Life

16 I saw wickedness in the place of judgment and injustice where justice should be.

17 I said to myself, “God will judge both the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every deed.”

18 God tests people to show them they are no better than animals.

19 Humans and animals share the same breath; both die the same way. All go to the same place, from dust to dust.

20 Everyone returns to the dirt.

21 Who knows if the human spirit goes up and the animal’s goes down,

22 So I concluded, there is nothing better than to enjoy your work, for that is your lot. No one can tell you what comes after.