Ecclesiastes 3

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

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1There is a specific time for everything, and an appropriate time for every matter under heaven:

2a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot what 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 lament, and a time to dance;

5a time to cast down stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to cease from embracing;

6a time to seek out, and a time to give up; a time to guard, and a time to cast away;

7a time to tear up, and a time to mend together; a time to be silent, and a time to speak;

8a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

9What benefit does the worker have in his toil?

10I have seen the task that God has given to people to be concerned with.

11He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also put obscurity in their hearts so that people do not come to know the work that God has done from the beginning to the end.

12I know that there is nothing better for people than to be glad and do good in their life,

13and also that everyone should eat and drink and experience good in all their labor. This is a gift of God.

14I have perceived that everything that God has done will be lasting. And to this there is nothing to be added, and from it there is nothing to be taken away. God has done this so that in His presence people fear Him.

15That which is, has already been, and what is to come, has already been; and God seeks out what has gone by.

16Moreover, I observed what was under the sun: In the place of justice, there was wickedness; and in the place of righteousness, there was wickedness.

17I thought in my heart: “God will bring judgment to the righteous and the wicked, for there is an appropriate time for every matter and deed.”

18Then I thought in my heart, “Regarding the account of people, God is testing them to show that they are but animals.

19For there is an event for people and an event for animals, one fate for them both; as one dies, so does the other; there is one breath for all of them. There is no advantage for people over animals, for everything is vanity.

20All go to one place; everything came from dust, and returns to dust.

21Who has experienced the spirit of people ascending above, or the spirit of animals descending below the earth?”

22So I saw that there is nothing better than that people take joy in their labor, for that is their reward. Who will bring a person to see what will happen after his life?

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