ECCLESIASTES 3:1-16

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 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;

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 together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

⁶a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

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 for war, and a time for peace.

⁹What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

¹⁰I have seen the travail which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.

¹¹He hath made every thing beautiful in its time: also he hath set the world in their heart, yet so that man cannot find out the work that God hath done from the beginning even to the end.

¹²I know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to do good so long as they live.

¹³And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labour, is the gift of God.

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 hath done it, that men should fear before him.

¹⁵That which is hath been already; and that which is to be hath already been: and God seeketh again that which is passed away.

¹⁶And moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.