Everything Has Its Time

3 For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven:^(A)

The God-Given Task

⁹ What gain have the workers from their toil?^{(G) 10} I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with.^{(H) 11} He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover, he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.^{(I) 12} I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; ¹³ moreover, it is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil. ¹⁴ I know that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it nor anything taken from it; God has done this so that all should stand in awe before him.^{(J) 15} That which is already has been, that which is to be already is, and God seeks out what has gone by.^[a](K)

5 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you.^{(A) 2} For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.^{(B) 3} When they say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape!^{(C) 4} But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief;^{(D) 5} for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. ⁶ So, then, let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober,^{(E) 7} for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night.^{(F) 8} But since we belong to the day, let us be sober and put on the breastplate of faith and love and for a helmet the hope of salvation.^{(G) 9} For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,^{(H) 10} who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him.^{(I) 11} Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

²⁸ “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. ²⁹ So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he^[a] is near, at the very gates. ³⁰ Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.^{(A) 31} Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.^(B)

The Necessity for Watchfulness

³² “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father.^{(C) 33} Beware, keep alert,^[b] for you do not know when the time will come.^{(D) 34} It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch.^{(E) 35} Therefore, keep awake, for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening or at midnight or at cockcrow or at dawn,^{(F) 36} or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. ³⁷ And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”