[1] For everything there is a fixed time, and a time for every business
under the sun. [2] A time for birth and a time for death; a time for
planting and a time for uprooting; [3] A time to put to death and a time to
make well; a time for pulling down and a time for building up; [4] A time
for weeping and a time for laughing; a time for sorrow and a time for
dancing; [5] A time to take stones away and a time to get stones together;
a time for kissing and a time to keep from kissing; [6] A time for search
and a time for loss; a time to keep and a time to give away; [7] A time for
undoing and a time for stitching; a time for keeping quiet and a time for
talk; [8] A time for love and a time for hate; a time for war and a time
for peace. [9] What profit has the worker in the work which he does? [10] I
saw the work which God has put on the sons of man. [11] He has made
everything right in its time; but he has made their hearts without
knowledge, so that man is unable to see the works of God, from the first to
the last. [12] I am certain that there is nothing better for a man than to
be glad, and to do good while life is in him. [13] And for every man to
take food and drink, and have joy in all his work, is a reward from God.
[14] I am certain that whatever God does will be for ever. No addition may
be made to it, nothing may be taken from it; and God has done it so that
man may be in fear before him. [15] Whatever is has been before, and what
is to be is now; because God makes search for the things which are past.
[16] And again, I saw under the sun, in the place of the judges, that evil
was there; and in the place of righteousness, that evil was there. [17] I
said in my heart, God will be judge of the good and of the bad; because a
time for every purpose and for every work has been fixed by him. [18] I
said in my heart, It is because of the sons of men, so that God may put
them to the test and that they may see themselves as beasts. [19] Because
the fate of the sons of men and the fate of the beasts is the same. As is
the death of one so is the death of the other, and all have one spirit. Man
is not higher than the beasts; because all is to no purpose. [20] All go to
one place, all are of the dust, and all will be turned to dust again. [21]
Who is certain that the spirit of the sons of men goes up to heaven, or
that the spirit of the beasts goes down to the earth? [22] So I saw that
there is nothing better than for a man to have joy in his work--because
that is his reward. Who will make him see what will come after him?
