1 For all things there is a season, and every will under the heaven has its time determined.
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
9 What profit does the one that works have in that in which he labours? 10 I have seen the travail which God has given to the sons of men that they may be occupied in it. 11 He has made every thing beautiful in his time: even the world he has given over to their will, in such a way that no man can attain to this work that God makes from the beginning to the end. 12 I have learned that there is nothing better for them, but to rejoice and to do good in his life. 13 And also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labour; it is the gift of God.
14 I have understood that whatever God does, it shall be for ever; nothing can be added to it, nor any thing taken from it because God does it that men should fear before him. 15 That which has been is now, and that which is to be has already been and God shall seek that which is past.
16 And moreover I saw under the sun that instead of judgment, there was wickedness; and instead of righteousness, that iniquity was there. 17 I said in my heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time determined to judge every will and regarding everything that is done. 18 I said in my heart concerning the estate of the sons of men that God might manifest them and that they might see that they themselves are beasts one to another. 19 For that which befalls the sons of men befalls beasts; even one thing befalls them: as the one dies, so dies the other; and they all have one breath; so that a man has no more breath than a beast: for all is vanity. 20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all shall turn to dust again. 21 Who knows that the spirit of the sons of men goes upward and that the spirit of the beast goes downward to the earth? 22 Therefore 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?