Ecclesiastes 3:1-17

Thomson(i) 1 Time is for all things: but there is a particular portion of time for every particular affair under heaven; 2 a time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to root up what was planted; 3 a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to pull 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 seek and a time to lose; a time to keep and a time to throw away; 7 a time to rend and a time to sew; a time to be silent 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 is the lasting advantage of the agent from the things in which he laboureth? 10 I have taken a collective view of all the business which God hath assigned to the sons of men to be exercised therewith. 11 All the things which he made, considered as a whole, are good in his time. But with regard to all things considered as one whole, to them he hath assigned the whole age; so that no man can find out the work which God hath done from beginning to end. 12 I have found that there is no good in them 13 [I mean in regard to every man who eateth and drinketh, and can see good in all his labour] if there is not a gift of God that he may be made glad and do good in his life. 14 I have found that all the things which God hath made shall continue their age; there is no adding to it nor taking from it; and that God hath acted that they may be awed at his presence. 15 What hath been is now; and what are to be have already been; and God will find out him who is persecuted: 16 and yet I saw under the sun a place of judgment; was the [[a] an objection, [b] the answer.] wicked there? and a place for the just; was the pious there? 17 Then I said in my heart God will judge the whole class of the righteous, and the whole class of the wicked. For there is a time for every thing; and he is there over all the work.