A Time for Everything

3 There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a ^(A)time for every matter under heaven—

^9 (I)What benefit is there for the worker from that in which he labors? ¹⁰ I have seen the ^(J)task which God has given the sons of mankind with which to ^[a]occupy themselves.

God Set Eternity in the Heart of Mankind

¹¹ He has ^(K)made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, without the possibility that mankind ^(L)will find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.

¹² I know that there is ^(M)nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; ¹³ moreover, that every person who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—this is the ^(N)gift of God. ¹⁴ I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it. And God has so worked, that people will ^[b](O)fear Him. ^15 (P)That which is, is what has already been, and that which will be has already been; and God ^[c]seeks what has passed by.

¹⁶ Furthermore, I have seen under the sun that in the place of justice there is ^(Q)wickedness and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness. ¹⁷ I said ^[d]to myself, “^(R)God will judge the righteous and the wicked,” for a ^(S)time for every matter and for every deed ^[e]is there. ¹⁸ I said ^[f]to myself regarding the sons of mankind, “God is testing them in order for them to see that they are as ^(T)animals, they to themselves.” ^19 (U)For the fate of the sons of mankind and the fate of animals ^[g]is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath, and there is no advantage for mankind over animals, for all is futility. ²⁰ All go to the same place. All came from the ^(V)dust and all return to the dust. ²¹ Who knows that the ^(W)spirit of the sons of mankind ascends upward and the spirit of the animal descends downward to the earth? ²² I have seen that ^(X)nothing is better than when a person is happy in his activities, for that is his ^[h]lot. For who will bring him to see ^(Y)what will occur after him?

Honor Widows

5 ^(A)Do not sharply rebuke an ^(B)older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, and to ^(C)the younger men as brothers, ² to the older women as mothers, and to the younger women as sisters, in all purity.

³ Honor widows who are actually ^(D)widows; ⁴ but if any widow has children or grandchildren, ^(E)they must first learn to show proper respect for their own family and to give back compensation to their parents; for this is ^(F)acceptable in the sight of God. ⁵ Now she who is actually a ^(G)widow and has been left alone ^(H)has set her hope on God, and she continues in ^(I)requests and prayers night and day. ⁶ But she who ^(J)indulges herself in luxury is ^(K)dead, even while she lives. ^7 [a](L)Give these instructions as well, so that they may be above reproach. ⁸ But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has ^(M)denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

⁹ A widow is to be ^(N)put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been ^(O)the wife of one man, ¹⁰ having a reputation for ^(P)good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has ^(Q)shown hospitality to strangers, if she ^(R)has washed the ^[b]saints’ feet, if she has ^(S)assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work. ¹¹ But refuse to register younger widows, for when they feel ^(T)physical desires alienating them from Christ, they want to get married, ¹² thereby incurring condemnation, because they have ^[c]ignored their previous pledge. ¹³ At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also they become ^(U)gossips and ^(V)busybodies, talking about ^(W)things not proper to mention. ¹⁴ Therefore, I want younger widows to get ^(X)married, have children, ^(Y)manage their households, and ^(Z)give the enemy no opportunity for reproach; ¹⁵ for some ^(AA)have already turned away to follow ^(AB)Satan. ¹⁶ If any woman who is a believer ^(AC)has dependent widows, she must ^(AD)assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are actually ^(AE)widows.

Concerning Elders

^17 (AF)The elders who ^(AG)lead well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who ^(AH)work hard ^[d]at preaching and teaching. ¹⁸ For the Scripture says, “^(AI)You shall not muzzle the ox while it is threshing,” and “^(AJ)The laborer is worthy of his wages.” ¹⁹ Do not accept an accusation against an ^(AK)elder except on the basis of ^(AL)two or three witnesses. ²⁰ Those who continue in sin, ^(AM)rebuke in the presence of all, ^(AN)so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning. ^21 (AO)I solemnly exhort you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality. ^22 (AP)Do not lay hands upon anyone too quickly and ^[e]thereby share ^(AQ)responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself ^[f]free from sin.

²³ Do not go on drinking only water, but ^(AR)use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

²⁴ The sins of some people are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins ^(AS)follow after. ²⁵ Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and ^(AT)those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.