Ecclesiastes 3
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King James BibleHolman Christian Standard Bible
1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:1There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under 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;2a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot;
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 tear down and a time to build;
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 together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;5a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing;
6A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;6a time to search and a time to count as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away;
7A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;7a time to tear and a time to sew; a time to be silent 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 for war and a time for peace.
9What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?9What does the worker gain from his struggles?
10I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.10I have seen the task that God has given people to keep them occupied.
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.11He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts, but man cannot discover the work God has done from beginning to end.
12I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.12I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy the good life.
13And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.13It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks, and enjoys all his efforts.
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.14I know that all God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. God works so that people will be in awe of Him.
15That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.15Whatever is, has already been, and whatever will be, already is. God repeats what has passed.
16And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.16I also observed under the sun: there is wickedness at the place of judgment and there is wickedness at the place of righteousness.
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.17I said to myself, "God will judge the righteous and the wicked, since there is a time for every activity and every work."
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.18I said to myself, "This happens concerning people, so that God may test them and they may see for themselves that they are like animals."
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.19For the fate of people and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; they all have the same breath. People have no advantage over animals since everything is futile.
20All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.20All are going to the same place; all come from dust, and all return to dust.
21Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?21Who knows if the spirit of people rises upward and the spirit of animals goes downward to the earth?
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?22I have seen that there is nothing better than for a person to enjoy his activities because that is his reward. For who can enable him to see what will happen after he dies?
King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
Ecclesiastes 2
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