Ecclesiastes 3

1For everything there is a season,
and a time for every matter under the heavens. 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; 4a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5a time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones;
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 throw away; 7a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to be silent, and a time to speak; 8a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

9What gain is there for the one who works in what they labor at? 10I have seen the task that God has given to human beings to occupy them. 11He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts, yet without enabling anyone to find out the work that God has done from beginning to end. 12I know that there is nothing good for them except to rejoice and to do good during their lives. 13And also, whenever anyone eats and drinks and sees good in all their labor, this is God’s gift. 14I know that whatever God does will be forever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing can be taken from it. God has done it so that people may fear before him. 15What has been already is, and what is to be has already been; and God seeks what has been pursued.

16And further, I saw under the sun: in the place of justice, there was wickedness; and in the place of righteousness, there was wickedness. 17I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every deed there.”

18I said in my heart concerning human beings: God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are animals. 19For the fate of human beings and the fate of animals is one fate for them: as one dies, so dies the other; and one breath belongs to all. Human beings have no advantage over animals, for all is vapor. 20All go to one place. All came from the dust, and all return to the dust. 21Who knows whether the spirit of human beings goes upward, and whether the spirit of the animal goes down to the earth? 22So I saw that there is nothing better than for people to rejoice in their work, for that is their portion. For who can bring them to see what will be after them?