Bible-Reading.comEcclesiastes 3
1To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens:
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 rend, 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 of war, and a time of peace.
9What profit hath he that worketh from that wherein he laboureth?
10I have seen the travail that God hath given to the sons of men to toil in.
11He hath made everything beautiful in its time; also he hath set the world in their heart, so that man findeth not out from the beginning to the end the work that God doeth.
12I know that there is nothing good for them but to rejoice and to do well in their life;
13yea also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labour, it is the gift of God.
14I know that whatever God doeth, it shall be for ever; there is nothing to be added to it, nor anything to be taken from it; and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
15That which is was long ago, and that which is to be hath already been; and God bringeth back again that which is past.
16And moreover I saw under the sun, that in the place of judgment, wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, 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, It is thus with the children of men, that God may prove them, and that they should see that they themselves are but beasts.
19For what befalleth the children of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other, and they have all one breath; and man hath no pre-eminence above the beast: for all is vanity.
20All go unto one place: all are of the dust, and all return to dust.
21Who knoweth the spirit of the children of men? Doth it go upwards? and the spirit of the beasts, doth it go downwards to the earth?
22And I have seen that there is nothing better than that 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 4
1And I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors was power, and they had no comforter.
2Then I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive;
3and more fortunate than both is he who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4And I saw all labour, and all success of work, that it is man's jealousy of his neighbour. This also is vanity and pursuit of the wind.
5The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
6Better is a handful with quietness, than both hands full with labour and pursuit of the wind.
7And I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
8There is one alone and without a second; also he hath neither son nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour, neither is his eye satisfied with riches, and he saith not, For whom then am I labouring, and depriving my soul of good? This also is vanity and a grievous occupation.
9Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and who hath not another to lift him up!
11Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one alone be warm?
12And if a man overpower the one, the two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13Better is a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth no more how to be admonished.
14For out of the prison-house he came forth to reign, although he was born poor in his kingdom.
15I saw all the living that walk under the sun, with the child, the second, that should stand up in his stead.
16There is no end of all the people, of all that stood before them; those however that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after the wind.