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Ecclesiastes 3:1-17
World English Bible

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

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

9 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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Ecclesiastes 3:1-17
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Everything Has Its Time

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

2 a time to be born and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted;(B)
3 a time to kill and a time to heal;
a time to break down and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance;(C)
5 a time to throw away stones and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;(D)
6 a time to seek and a time to lose;
a time to keep and a time to throw away;
7 a time to tear and a time to sew;
a time to keep silent and a time to speak;(E)
8 a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace.(F)

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)

Judgment and the Future Belong to God

16 Moreover, I saw under the sun that, in the place of justice, wickedness was there, and in the place of righteousness, wickedness was there as well. 17 I said to myself, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for he has appointed a time for every matter and for every work.”(L)

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Footnotes

  1. 3.15 Heb what is pursued
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Ecclesiastes 2
Ecclesiastes 4
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