Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

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.

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1 Thessalonians 5:14-16

New International Version

¹⁴And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle^(A) and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak,^(B) be patient with everyone. ¹⁵Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong,^(C) but always strive to do what is good for each other^(D) and for everyone else.

¹⁶Rejoice always,^(E)

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James 4:13-16

New International Version

Boasting About Tomorrow

¹³Now listen,^(A) you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”^(B) ¹⁴Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.^(C) ¹⁵Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will,^(D) we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.^(E)