Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 AMP

[1] There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven— [2] A time to be born and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. [3] A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear 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 throw away stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing. [6] A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away. [7] A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to keep 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 profit is there for the worker from that in which he labors? [10] I have seen the task which God has given to the sons of men with which to occupy themselves. [11] He has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time. He has also planted eternity [a sense of divine purpose] in the human heart [a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except God]—yet man cannot find out (comprehend, grasp) what God has done (His overall plan) from the beginning to the end. [12] I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good as long as they live; [13] and also that every man should eat and drink and see and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God. [14] I know that whatever God does, it endures forever; nothing can be added to it nor can anything be taken from it, for God does it so that men will fear and worship Him [with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is God]. [15] That which is has already been, and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by [so that history repeats itself]. [16] Moreover, I have seen under the sun that in the place of justice there is wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness. [17] I said to myself, “God will judge both the righteous and the wicked,” for there is a time [appointed] for every matter and for every deed. [18] I said to myself regarding the sons of men, “God is surely testing them in order for them to see that [by themselves, without God] they are [only] animals.” [19] For the [earthly] fate of the sons of men and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath and there is no preeminence or advantage for man [in and of himself] over an animal, for all is vanity. [20] All go to the same place. All came from the dust and all return to the dust. [21] Who knows if the spirit of man ascends upward and the spirit of the animal descends downward to the earth? [22] So I have seen that there is nothing better than that a man should be happy in his own works and activities, for that is his portion (share). For who will bring him [back] to see what will happen after he is gone?