Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

New International Version

A Time for Everything

3 There is a time^(A) for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

²    a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,^(B)
³    a time to kill^(C) and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴    a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵    a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
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 mend,
    a time to be silent^(D) and a time to speak,
⁸    a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

⁹What do workers gain from their toil?^(E) ¹⁰I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race.^(F) ¹¹He has made everything beautiful in its time.^(G) He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet^[a] no one can fathom^(H) what God has done from beginning to end.^(I)

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Footnotes

Ecclesiastes 3:11 Or also placed ignorance in the human heart, so that

Psalm 45:1-7

New International Version

Psalm 45^[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.^[b] A wedding song.^(A)

¹My heart is stirred by a noble theme
as I recite my verses for the king;
my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.

²You are the most excellent of men
and your lips have been anointed with grace,^(B)
since God has blessed you forever.^(C)

³Gird your sword^(D) on your side, you mighty one;^(E)
    clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.^(F)
⁴In your majesty ride forth victoriously^(G)
    in the cause of truth, humility and justice;^(H)
    let your right hand^(I) achieve awesome deeds.^(J)
⁵Let your sharp arrows^(K) pierce the hearts^(L) of the king’s enemies;^(M)
    let the nations fall beneath your feet.
⁶Your throne, O God,^[c] will last for ever and ever;^(N)
    a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
⁷You love righteousness^(O) and hate wickedness;^(P)
    therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
    by anointing^(Q) you with the oil of joy.^(R)

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Footnotes

Psalm 45:1 In Hebrew texts 45:1-17 is numbered 45:2-18.
Psalm 45:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
Psalm 45:6 Here the king is addressed as God’s representative.

Ephesians 2:8-10

New International Version

⁸For it is by grace^(A) you have been saved,^(B) through faith^(C)—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works,^(D) so that no one can boast.^(E) ¹⁰For we are God’s handiwork,^(F) created^(G) in Christ Jesus to do good works,^(H) which God prepared in advance for us to do.