“1 To every [thing there is] a season, and a time to every purpose
under the heaven: 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 get,
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 hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? 10 I
have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be
exercised in it.”
“11 He 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. 12 I know that [there is] no good
in them, but for [a man] 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 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. 15 That which
hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God
requireth that which is past.”
“16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, [that]
wickedness [was] there; and the place of righteousness, [that] iniquity
[was] there. 17 I 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. 18 I 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. 19 For 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. 20 All go unto one
place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. 21 Who knoweth
the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that
goeth downward to the earth? 22 Wherefore 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?” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 AV)