Ecclesiastes 3–5

1For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose 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;

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 tear, 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 has he who works in that in which he labors?

10I have seen the burden which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.

11He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man can’t find out the work that God has done from the beginning even to the end.

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

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

14I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should fear before him.

15That which is has been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago. God seeks again that which is passed away.

16Moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.

17I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”

18I said in my heart, “As for the sons of men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals.

19For that which happens to the sons of men happens to animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the other dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage over the animals, for all is vanity.

20All go to one place. All are from the dust, and all turn to dust again.

21Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth?”

22Therefore I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his works, for that is his portion; for who can bring him to see what will be after him?

1Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

2Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.

3Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

4Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

5The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.

6Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.

7Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.

8There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then do I labor and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.

9Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.

10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift him up.

11Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone?

12If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

13Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more.

14For out of prison he came out to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor.

15I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him.

16There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was—yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

1Guard your steps when you go to God’s house; for to draw near to listen is better than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they don’t know that they do evil.

2Don’t be rash with your mouth, and don’t let your heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and you on earth. Therefore let your words be few.

3For as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool’s speech with a multitude of words.

4When you vow a vow to God, don’t defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow.

5It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay.

6Don’t allow your mouth to lead you into sin. Don’t protest before the messenger that this was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice, and destroy the work of your hands?

7For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, as well as in many words; but you must fear God.

8If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a district, don’t marvel at the matter, for one official is eyed by a higher one, and there are officials over them.

9Moreover the profit of the earth is for all. The king profits from the field.

10He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver, nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.

11When goods increase, those who eat them are increased; and what advantage is there to its owner, except to feast on them with his eyes?

12The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not allow him to sleep.

13There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm.

14Those riches perish by misfortune, and if he has fathered a son, there is nothing in his hand.

15As he came out of his mother’s womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.

16This also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go. And what profit does he have who labors for the wind?

17All his days he also eats in darkness, he is frustrated, and has sickness and wrath.

18Behold, that which I have seen to be good and proper is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, in which he labors under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him; for this is his portion.

19Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat of it, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God.

20For he shall not often reflect on the days of his life, because God occupies him with the joy of his heart.