Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 CSB

[1] There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven: [2] a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot; [3] a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build; [4] a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; [5] a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing; [6] a time to search and a time to count as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away; [7] a time to tear 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 for war and a time for peace. [9] What does the worker gain from his struggles? [10] I have seen the task that God has given the children of Adam to keep them occupied. [11] He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts, but no one can discover the work God has done from beginning to end. [12] I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy the good life. [13] It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks, and enjoys all his efforts. [14] I know that everything God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. God works so that people will be in awe of him. [15] Whatever is, has already been, and whatever will be, already is. However, God seeks justice for the persecuted. [16] I also observed under the sun: there is wickedness at the place of judgment and there is wickedness at the place of righteousness. [17] I said to myself, "God will judge the righteous and the wicked, since there is a time for every activity and every work." [18] I said to myself, "This happens so that God may test the children of Adam and they may see for themselves that they are like animals." [19] For the fate of the children of Adam and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; they all have the same breath. People have no advantage over animals since everything is futile. [20] All are going to the same place; all come from dust, and all return to dust. [21] Who knows if the spirits of the children of Adam go upward and the spirits of animals go downward to the earth? [22] I have seen that there is nothing better than for a person to enjoy his activities because that is his reward. For who can enable him to see what will happen after he dies?