(KJV) Ecclesiastes 3¹

⥃To Everything There Is a Season

[1] To every [thing² there is] a season, and a time to every purpose under³ the heaven: [2] A time to be born⁴, and a time⁵ to die; a time to plant⁶, and a time to pluck up [that which is] planted; [3] A time to kill⁷, and a time to heal⁸; a time to break⁹ down, and a time to build up; [4] A time to weep¹⁰, and a time to laugh¹¹; a time to mourn, and a time to dance¹²; [5] A time to cast¹³ away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace¹⁴, and a time to refrain from¹⁵ embracing; [6] A time to get¹⁶, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast¹⁷ away; [7] A time to rend¹⁸, and a time to sew; a time to keep¹⁹ silence, and a time to speak²⁰; [8] A time to love²¹, and a time to hate²²; a time of war²³, and a time of peace.

⥃God’s Works Remain Forever

[9] What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?²⁴ [10] I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.²⁵ [11] He hath made²⁶ every [thing] beautiful in his time: also²⁷²⁸ 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. [12] I know that [there is] no good in them, but²⁹ for [a man] to rejoice, and to do good in his life. [13] And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it [is] the gift of God.³⁰ [14] I know that, whatsoever³¹ God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing³² can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth [it³³], that [men] should fear before him. [15] That which hath³⁴ been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past³⁵.

⥃From Dust to Dust

[16] And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, [that] wickedness [was] there; and the place of righteousness, [that] iniquity [was] there.³⁶ [17] I said³⁷ in mine heart, God³⁸ shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for³⁹ [there is] a time there for every purpose and for every work. [18] I said in mine heart concerning⁴⁰ the estate of the sons of men, that God⁴¹ might manifest them, and that⁴² they might see that they themselves are beasts. [19] For that which⁴³ befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the⁴⁴ one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for⁴⁵ all [is] vanity. [20] All go⁴⁶ unto one place; all are⁴⁷ of the dust, and all turn to dust again. [21] Who knoweth⁴⁸ the spirit of man that goeth upward⁴⁹, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? [22] Wherefore I perceive that [there is] nothing⁵⁰ better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that [is] his portion: for who⁵¹ shall bring him to see what shall be after him?