New International Version | New International Version |
1There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: | 1There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: |
2a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, | 2a time to be born 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 tear down and a time to build, | 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 scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, | 5a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, |
6a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, | 6a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, |
7a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, | 7a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, |
8a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. | 8a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. |
9What do workers gain from their toil? | 9What do workers gain from their toil? |
10I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. | 10I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. |
11He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. | 11He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. |
12I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. | 12I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. |
13That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil--this is the gift of God. | 13That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil--this is the gift of God. |
14I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him. | 14I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him. |
15Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account. | 15Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account. |
16And I saw something else under the sun: In the place of judgment--wickedness was there, in the place of justice--wickedness was there. | 16And I saw something else under the sun: In the place of judgment--wickedness was there, in the place of justice--wickedness was there. |
17I said to myself, "God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed." | 17I said to myself, "God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed." |
18I also said to myself, "As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. | 18I also said to myself, "As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. |
19Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. | 19Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. |
20All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. | 20All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. |
21Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?" | 21Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?" |
22So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them? | 22So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them? |
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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