Ecclesiastes 3
The Preacher declares that there is a time for everything — a time to be born and a time to die, a time to weep and a time to laugh. He observes that God has made everything beautiful in its time and set eternity in the hearts of men, yet no one can find out the full work of God. He notes that man and beast share the same breath and the same death, and all return to dust.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: | To every thing there is a season, and a time to 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; | a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pull up what is planted; |
| 3 | A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; | a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear 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; | 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; | 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 get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; | a time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; |
| 7 | A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; | a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silent, and a time to speak; |
| 8 | A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. | a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. |
| 9 | What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? | What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? |
| 10 | I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of man to be exercised in it. | I have seen the task that God has given to the sons of man, to be busy with. |
| 11 | He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. | He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set the world in their heart, yet no man can find out the work that God makes from the beginning to the end. |
| 12 | I know that there is no good in them, but to rejoice, and to do good in his life. | I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in their life. |
| 13 | And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. | And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor — it is the gift of God. |
| 14 | I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. | I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God does it so that men should fear before Him. |
| 15 | That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past. | That which has been is now, and that which is to be has already been. And God requires what is past. |
| 16 | And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. | Moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, and wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, and iniquity was there. |
| 17 | I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work. | I said in my heart, "God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work." |
| 18 | I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. | I said in my heart concerning the state of the sons of men, that God might test them, and that they might see they themselves are like beasts. |
| 19 | For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. | For what happens to the sons of men also happens to beasts; one thing happens to them both. As one dies, so dies the other. They all have one breath, so that a man has no advantage over a beast, for all is vanity. |
| 20 | All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. | All go to one place. All are from the dust, and all turn to dust again. |
| 21 | Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? | Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the beast, whether it goes downward to the earth? |
| 22 | Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him? | So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his portion. For who shall bring him to see what shall be after him? |