Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
King James Version
3 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the 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;
3 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;
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;
6 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;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
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Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Amplified Bible
A Time for Everything
3 There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven—
2
A time to be born and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.(A)
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 weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
5
A time to throw away stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.
6
A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7
A time to [a]tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to keep silent and a time to speak.(B)
8
A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.(C)
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 3:7 This may be a reference to the practice of tearing one’s clothes as a sign of mourning which began early among the Hebrews. Cf Gen 37:29. There are many references to this in the Old Testament. Solomon was no doubt familiar with this practice as his own father engaged in it with his contemporaries. Cf 2 Sam 3:31.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
The Message
There’s a Right Time for Everything
3 There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:
2-8 A right time for birth and another for death,
A right time to plant and another to reap,
A right time to kill and another to heal,
A right time to destroy and another to construct,
A right time to cry and another to laugh,
A right time to lament and another to cheer,
A right time to make love and another to abstain,
A right time to embrace and another to part,
A right time to search and another to count your losses,
A right time to hold on and another to let go,
A right time to rip out and another to mend,
A right time to shut up and another to speak up,
A right time to love and another to hate,
A right time to wage war and another to make peace.
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson