Darby Bible Translation

English Standard Version

To Everything There is a Season

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens:

1

A Time for Everything

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

2

A time to be born, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

2

a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

3

A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to break down, and a time to build up;

3

a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break 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;

4

a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

5

a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6

A time to seek, and a time to lose; A time to keep, and a time to cast away;

6

a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7

A time to rend, and a time to sew; A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

7

a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8

A time to love, and a time to hate; A time of war, and a time of peace.

8

a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

9

The Excellence in God's Works

What profit hath he that worketh from that wherein he laboureth?

9

The God-Given Task

What gain has the worker from his toil?

10

I have seen the travail that God hath given to the sons of men to toil in.

10

I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with.

11

He hath made everything beautiful in its time; also he hath set the world in their heart, so that man findeth not out from the beginning to the end the work that God doeth.

11

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

12

I know that there is nothing good for them but to rejoice and to do well in their life;

12

I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live;

13

yea also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labour, it is the gift of God.

13

also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil — this is God’s gift to man.

14

I know that whatever God doeth, it shall be for ever; there is nothing to be added to it, nor anything to be taken from it; and God doeth [it], that [men] should fear before him.

14

I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him.

15

That which is was long ago, and that which is to be hath already been; and God bringeth back again that which is past.

15

That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.a

16

From Dust to Dust

And moreover I saw under the sun, that in the place of judgment, wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, wickedness was there.

16

From Dust to Dust

Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness.

17

I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

17

I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work.

18

I said in my heart, It is thus with the children of men, that God may prove them, and that they should see that they themselves are but beasts.

18

I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts.

19

For what befalleth the children of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other, and they have all one breath; and man hath no pre-eminence above the beast: for all is vanity.

19

For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity.b

20

All go unto one place: all are of the dust, and all return to dust.

20

All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return.

21

Who knoweth the spirit of the children of men? Doth it go upwards? and the spirit of the beasts, doth it go downwards to the earth?

21

Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth?

22

And I have seen that there is nothing better than that man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion; for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

22

So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?

Parallel

Darby Bible Translation

English Standard Version

Ecclesiastes 3

Ecclesiastes 3