Eclesiastés 3
World English Bible
1For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under 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 tear, 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 has he who works in that in which he labors?
10I have seen the burden which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.
11He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man can’t find out the work that God has done from the beginning even to the end.
12I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good as long as they live.
13Also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God.
14I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should fear before him.
15That which is has been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago. God seeks again that which is passed away.
16Moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that 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, “As for the sons of men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals.
19For that which happens to the sons of men happens to animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the other dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage over the animals, for all is vanity.
20All go to one place. All are from the dust, and all turn to dust again.
21Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth?”
22Therefore I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his works, for that is his portion; for who can bring him to see what will be after him?
Reina-Valera 1909
1PARA todas las cosas hay sazón, y todo lo que se quiere debajo del cielo, tiene su tiempo:
2Tiempo de nacer, y tiempo de morir; tiempo de plantar, y tiempo de arrancar lo plantado;
3Tiempo de matar, y tiempo de curar; tiempo de destruir, y tiempo de edificar;
4Tiempo de llorar, y tiempo de reir; tiempo de endechar, y tiempo de bailar;
5Tiempo de esparcir las piedras, y tiempo de allegar las piedras; tiempo de abrazar, y tiempo de alejarse de abrazar;
6Tiempo de agenciar, y tiempo de perder; tiempo de guardar, y tiempo de arrojar;
7Tiempo de romper, y tiempo de coser; tiempo de callar, y tiempo de hablar;
8Tiempo de amar, y tiempo de aborrecer; tiempo de guerra, y tiempo de paz.
9¿Qué provecho tiene el que trabaja en lo que trabaja?
10Yo he visto el trabajo que Dios ha dado á los hijos de los hombres para que en él se ocupasen.
11Todo lo hizo hermoso en su tiempo: y aun el mundo dió en su corazón, de tal manera que no alcance el hombre la obra de Dios desde el principio hasta el cabo.
12Yo he conocido que no hay mejor para ellos, que alegrarse, y hacer bien en su vida:
13Y también que es don de Dios que todo hombre coma y beba, y goce el bien de toda su labor.
14He entendido que todo lo que Dios hace, eso será perpetuo: sobre aquello no se añadirá, ni de ello se disminuirá; y hácelo Dios, para que delante de él teman los hombres.
15Aquello que fué, ya es: y lo que ha de ser, fué ya; y Dios restaura lo que pasó.
16Vi más debajo del sol: en lugar del juicio, allí la impiedad; y en lugar de la justicia, allí la iniquidad.
17Y dije yo en mi corazón: Al justo y al impío juzgará Dios; porque allí hay tiempo á todo lo que se quiere y sobre todo lo que se hace.
18Dije en mi corazón, en orden á la condición de los hijos de los hombres, que Dios los probaría, para que así echaran de ver ellos mismos que son semejantes á las bestias.
19Porque el suceso de los hijos de los hombres, y el suceso del animal, el mismo suceso es: como mueren los unos, así mueren los otros; y una misma respiración tienen todos; ni tiene más el hombre que la bestia: porque todo es vanidad.
20Todo va á un lugar: todo es hecho del polvo, y todo se tornará en el mismo polvo.
21¿Quién sabe que el espíritu de los hijos de los hombres suba arriba, y que el espíritu del animal descienda debajo de la tierra?
22Así que he visto que no hay cosa mejor que alegrarse el hombre con lo que hiciere; porque esta es su parte: porque ¿quién lo llevará para que vea lo que ha de ser después de él?
King James Version
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 get, 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 in that wherein he laboureth?
10I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
11He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
12I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
13And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it 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 doeth it, that men should fear before him.
15That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
16And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity 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 concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are 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; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: 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 that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
22Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?