CHAPTER 3
a time
to cast away
stones
and a time
to gather
stones together,
a time
to embrace
and a time
to refrain
from embracing,
He has made
everything
beautiful
in its time.
He has also
set
eternity
in the hearts of men,
yet
they
cannot
fathom
the work
God
has done
from beginning
to
end.
and also
that every
man
should eat
and drink
and find
satisfaction
in all
his labor—
this is
the gift
of God.
I know
that
everything
God
does
will remain forever;
nothing
can be added
to it
or taken
from it.
God
works
that men should revere
Him.
What exists
has already
been,
and what
will be
has already
been,
for God
will call to account
what has passed.
Furthermore,
I saw
under
the sun
that in the place
of judgment
there is
wickedness,
and in the place
of righteousness
there is
wickedness.
I
said
in my heart,
“God
will judge
the righteous
and
the wicked,
since
there is a time
for every
activity
and every
deed.”
I
said
to myself,
“As for
the sons
of men,
God
tests them
so that they may see
for themselves
that they
are but beasts.”
For
the fates
of both men
and
beasts
are the same:
As one
dies,
so
dies
the other—
they all
have the same
breath.
Man
has no
advantage
over
the animals,
since
everything
is futile.
Who
knows
if the spirit
of man
rises
upward
and the spirit
of the animal
descends
into the earth?
I have seen
that
there is nothing
better
for a man
than
to enjoy
his work,
because
that
is his lot.
For
who
can bring
him to see
what
will come
after him?