1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the 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; 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; 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 get, 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; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. 9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? 10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
11 He 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. 12 I know that there is no good in them, but 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. 14 I 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. 15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
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. 17 I 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. 18 I 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. 19 For 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. 20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. 21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? 22 Wherefore 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?
Visam savs laiks
1 Viss savā reizē un savs laiks ik lietai zem debess:
2 laiks dzimt un laiks mirt,
laiks stādīt un laiks plūkt stādus,
3 laiks nokaut un laiks dziedināt,
laiks graut un laiks celt,
4 laiks raudāt un laiks smiet,
laiks sērot un laiks diet,
5 laiks akmeņus mest un laiks akmeņus vākt,
laiks apskaut un laiks bēgt no skavām,
6 laiks meklēt un laiks zaudēt,
laiks glabāt un laiks sviest prom,
7 laiks saplēst un laiks šūt,
laiks klusēt un laiks runāt,
8 laiks mīlēt un laiks nīst,
laiks karam un laiks mieram.
9 Kas tiek darītājam no viņa pūlēm?
Dieva dotais uzdevums un dāvana
10 Es redzēju, kādu amatu Dievs uzlicis cilvēkbērniem nopūlēties. 11 Visu viņš darījis jauku tā īstajā laikā! Pat mūžību viņš tiem ielicis sirdī – vien neatklāt cilvēkam darbus, ko Dievs darījis no iesākuma līdz galam. 12 Zinu, ka nekas tiem nav labāk kā līksmot un priecāties, kamēr tie dzīvo. 13 Un, ja cilvēks ēd, dzer un rod prieku visos savos pūliņos, tad tā ir Dieva dāvana. 14 Zinu, ka viss, ko Dievs dara, pastāvēs mūžam, tam nevar ne pielikt, ne atņemt – Dievs tā ir darījis, lai tie bīstas viņa.
15 Kas ir bijis, jau atkal ir;
kas būs, jau ir bijis –
un Dievs lūko pēc pagājušā.
Tiesas spriedums un nākotne pieder Dievam
16 Un ko es vēl redzēju zem saules –
tiesas vietā tur negantība,
un taisnības vietā tur negantība!
17 Es sacīju sev:
gan taisno, gan ļaundari
tiesās Dievs,
jo tur ir savs laiks katrai lietai
un katram darbam.
18 Es sacīju sev par cilvēkbērniem: Dievs viņus ir pārbaudījis un parādījis, ka viņi ir lopi, tik tiešām! 19 Jo cilvēkbērnu liktenis un lopu liktenis viens – kā viens mirst, tā otrs, viena dvaša tiem visiem, un cilvēks nav pārāks par lopu, jo viss ir tukšība. 20 Visi iet uz to pašu vietu – visi nāk no pīšļiem un atgriežas pīšļos. 21 Kurš zina, vai cilvēkbērnu dvaša kāpj augšup, bet lopu dvaša grimst lejup zemē? 22 Es redzēju, ka cilvēkam nav nekā labāka kā līksmot par savu darbu, jo tā ir viņa daļa. Jo kurš gan viņam parādīs, kas būs pēc viņa?
