Bible-Reading.comEcclesiastes 3
1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the 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 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 for war, and a time for peace.
9What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
10I have seen the travail which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.
11He hath made every thing beautiful in its time: also he hath set the world in their heart, yet so that man cannot find out the work that God hath done from the beginning even to the end.
12I know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to do good so long as they live.
13And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labour, is the gift of God.
14I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God hath done it, that men should fear before him.
15That which is hath been already; and that which is to be hath already been: and God seeketh again that which is passed away.
16And moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.
17I 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.
18I said in mine heart, It is because of the sons of men, that God may prove them, and that they may see that they themselves are but as beasts.
19For 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; and man hath no preeminence above the beasts: for all is vanity.
20All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
21Who knoweth the spirit of man whether it goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast whether it goeth downward to the earth?
22Wherefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him back to see what shall be after him?
Ecclesiastes 4
1Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power, but they had no comforter.
2Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive;
3yea, better than them both did I esteem him which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4Then I saw all labour and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
5The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
6Better is an handful with quietness, than two handfuls with labour and striving after wind.
7Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
8There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches. For whom then, saith he, do I labour, and deprive my soul of good? This also is vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
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 hath not another to lift him up.
11Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth: but how can one be warm alone?
12And if a man prevail against him that 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 knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.
14For out of prison he came forth to be king; yea, even in his kingdom he was born poor.
15I saw all the living which walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the second, that stood up in his stead.
16There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.