[1] 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: and 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." [18] I said in my heart, "As for the
sons of men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are
like animals. [19] For that which happens to the sons of men happens to
animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the other
dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage over the
animals: for all is vanity. [20] All go to one place. All are from the
dust, and all turn to dust again. [21] Who knows the spirit of man, whether
it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to
the earth?" [22] Therefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a
man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who can bring
him to see what will be after him?
