Ecclesiastes 3
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1To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;2A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up;3A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance;4A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;5A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away;6A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;7A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.8A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
9What profit has the worker from that in which he labors?9What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
10I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied.10I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
11He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.11He 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.
12I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives,12I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
13and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.13And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
14I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him.14I 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.
15That which is has already been, And what is to be has already been; And God requires an account of what is past.15That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
16Moreover I saw under the sun: In the place of judgment, Wickedness was there; And in the place of righteousness, Iniquity was there.16And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
17I 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.”17I 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.
18I said in my heart, “Concerning the condition of the sons of men, God tests them, that they may see that they themselves are like animals.”18I 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.
19For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity.19For 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.
20All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust.20All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
21Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth?21Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
22So I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?22Wherefore 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?
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Ecclesiastes 2
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