Ecclesiastes3

Ecclesiastes 3 opens with a poetic declaration that there is a divinely appointed time for every activity and purpose under heaven, encompassing birth, death, joy, sorrow, war, and peace. The Preacher then reflects on God's eternal work, which humans cannot fully comprehend, and concludes that man's best course is to find joy and do good in his labor, as this is God's gift. He further observes the shared mortality of man and beast, both returning to dust, and reiterates the importance of embracing present enjoyment.

A Time for Everything

1
To all things there is an appointed time, and a time to euery purpose vnder the heauen.
2
A time to bee borne, and a time to die: a time to plant, and a time to plucke vp that which is planted.
3
A time to slay, and a time to heale: a time to breake downe, and a time to builde.
4
A time to weepe, and a time to laugh: a time to mourne, and a time to dance.
5
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones: a time to embrace, and a time to be farre from embracing.
6
A time to seeke, and a time to lose: a time to keepe, and a time to cast away.
7
A time to rent, and a time to sowe: a time to keepe silence, and a time to speake.
8
A time to loue, and a time to hate: a time of warre, and a time of peace.
9
What profite hath hee that worketh of the thing wherein he trauaileth?
10
I haue seene the trauaile that God hath giuen to ye sonnes of men to humble them thereby.

God's Eternal Plan and Human Joy

11
He hath made euery thing beautifull in his time: also he hath set the worlde in their heart, yet can not man finde out the worke that God hath wrought from the beginning euen to the end.
12
I know that there is nothing good in them, but to reioyce, and to doe good in his life.
13
And also that euery man eateth and drinketh, and seeth the commoditie of all his labour. this is the gift of God.
14
I knowe that whatsoeuer God shall doe, it shalbe for euer: to it can no man adde, and from it can none diminish: for God hath done it, that they should feare before him.
15
What is that that hath bene? that is nowe: and that that shalbe, hath now bene: for God requireth that which is past.

The Problem of Injustice and Mortality

16
And moreouer I haue seene vnder the sunne the place of iudgement, where was wickednesse, and the place of iustice where was iniquitie.
17
I thought in mine heart, God wil iudge the iust and the wicked: for time is there for euery purpose and for euery worke.
18
I considered in mine heart the state of the children of men that God had purged them: yet to see to, they are in themselues as beastes.
19
For the condition of the children of men, and the condition of beasts are euen as one condition vnto them. As the one dyeth, so dyeth the other: for they haue all one breath, and there is no excellency of man aboue ye beast: for all is vanitie.
20
All goe to one place, and all was of the dust, and all shall returne to the dust.
21
Who knoweth whether the spirit of man ascend vpward, and the spirit of the beast descend downeward to the earth?
22
Therefore I see that there is nothing better then that a man shoulde reioyce in his affaires, because that is his portion. For who shall bring him to see what shalbe after him?
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