The Mystery of Time
1 There is an occasion for everything,
and a time for every activity under heaven: f
2 a time to give birth and a time to die; g
a time to plant and a time to uproot; T
3 a time to kill and a time to heal;
a time to tear down and a time to build;
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh; h
a time to mourn and a time to dance; i
5 a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; j
a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing; k
6 a time to search and a time to count as lost;
a time to keep and a time to throw away;
7 a time to tear and a time to sew;
a time to be silent and a time to speak; l
8 a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace. m
9 What does the worker gain from his struggles? n 10 I have seen the task that God has given the children of Adam to keep them occupied. o 11 He has made everything appropriate U in its time. p He has also put eternity in their hearts, V but no one can discover the work God has done from beginning to end. q 12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy the W good life. 13 It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks, and enjoys all his efforts. r 14 I know that everything God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. s God works so that people will be in awe of him. t 15 Whatever is, has already been, u and whatever will be, already is. However, God seeks justice for the persecuted. X
The Mystery of Injustice and Death
16 I also observed under the sun: there is wickedness at the place of judgment and there is wickedness at the place of righteousness. v 17 I said to myself, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked, w since there is a time for every activity and every work.” x 18 I said to myself, “This happens so that God may test the children of Adam and they may see for themselves that they are like animals.” y 19 For the fate of the children of Adam and the fate of animals is the same. z As one dies, so dies the other; they all have the same breath. People have no advantage over animals since everything is futile. 20 All are going to the same place; all come from dust, and all return to dust. a 21 Who knows if the spirits of the children of Adam go upward and the spirits of animals go downward to the earth? 22 I have seen that there is nothing better than for a person to enjoy his activities b because that is his reward. For who can enable him to see what will happen after he dies? Y,c