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For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:

a time to be born,
    and a time to die;
a time to plant,
    and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
a time to kill,
    and a time to heal;
a time to break down,
    and a time to build up;
a time to weep,
    and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn,
    and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones,
    and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace,
    and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek,
    and a time to lose;
a time to keep,
    and a time to cast away;
a time to tear,
    and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence,
    and a time to speak;
a time to love,
    and a time to hate;
a time for war,
    and a time for peace.

What profit has he who works in that in which he labors? 10 I have seen the burden which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man can’t find out the work that God has done from the beginning even to the end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good as long as they live. 13 Also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God. 14 I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should fear before him. 15 That which is has been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago. God seeks again that which is passed away.

16 Moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there. 17 I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”

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Everything Has Its Time

To everything there is a season,
A (A)time for every purpose under heaven:

A time [a]to be born,
And (B)a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
A time to (C)weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
(D)A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
(E)A time to keep silence,
And a time to (F)speak;
A time to love,
And a time to (G)hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.

The God-Given Task

(H)What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? 10 (I)I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that (J)no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

12 I know that nothing is (K)better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, 13 and also that (L)every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.

14 I know that whatever God does,
It shall be forever.
(M)Nothing can be added to it,
And nothing taken from it.
God does it, that men should fear before Him.
15 (N)That which is has already been,
And what is to be has already been;
And God [b]requires an account of [c]what is past.

Injustice Seems to Prevail

16 Moreover (O)I saw under the sun:

In the place of [d]judgment,
Wickedness was there;
And in the place of righteousness,
[e]Iniquity was there.

17 I said in my heart,

(P)“God shall judge the righteous and the wicked,
For there is a time there for every [f]purpose and for every work.”

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 3:2 Lit. to bear
  2. Ecclesiastes 3:15 Lit. seeks
  3. Ecclesiastes 3:15 what is pursued
  4. Ecclesiastes 3:16 justice
  5. Ecclesiastes 3:16 Wickedness
  6. Ecclesiastes 3:17 desire