万物有时
1天下万物都有定期，
凡事都有定时。
2出生有时，死亡有时；
耕种有时，拔出有时；
3杀戮有时，医治有时；
拆毁有时，建造有时；
4哭泣有时，欢笑有时；
哀伤有时，雀跃有时；
5抛石有时，堆石有时3:5 “抛石有时，堆石有时”意义不明，有犹太拉比说是“同房有时，分房有时”。；
拥抱有时，避开有时；
6寻找有时，遗失有时；
保存有时，丢弃有时；
7撕裂有时，缝合有时；
沉默有时，发言有时；
8爱慕有时，憎恶有时；
争战有时，和好有时。
9那么，人劳碌做工有什么益处呢？ 10我察觉上帝给世人重担，使他们忙碌不休。 11祂使万事各按其时变得美好，又把永恒的意识放在人心里，人却不能测透上帝从始至终的作为。 12我认识到，人生在世没有什么比欢乐、享受更好。 13人人都该吃喝、享受自己劳苦的成果，这是上帝的恩赐。 14我知道，上帝所做的都会存到永远，谁也不能增减。祂这样安排是叫人敬畏祂。 15现在的事并不是新事，未来的事也早已发生过。上帝使过去的事再次出现。
世间的不公
16我又看到日光之下，即使在公道和正义之地也有邪恶。 17我心里想：“不论义人或恶人，上帝必审判，因为万事万务都有受审之时。” 18我又想：“至于世人，上帝试验他们，是要他们知道自己与兽类无异。 19因为人和兽的际遇并无分别，两者都难逃一死，活着都靠一口气。人并不比兽强，一切都是虚空。 20两者都同归一处，出于尘土，也归于尘土。 21谁知道人的气息3:21 “气息”或译“灵”，本节同。会向上升，兽的气息会降到地下呢？” 22因此，我觉得没有什么比人享受工作之乐更好，因为这是人当得的。人死后，谁能使他看到世间的事呢？
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;3.2 to be…: Heb. to bear 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;3.5 to refrain from: Heb. to be far from 6A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;3.6 get: or, seek 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.3.15 that which is past: Heb. that which is driven away
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. 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.3.18 that God…: or, that they might clear God, and see, etc 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?3.21 of man: Heb. of the sons of man3.21 goeth upward: Heb. is ascending, etc 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?
