1 There is an appointedtime for everything. And there is a 1time for everyeventunderheaven -
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A time to givebirth and a 2time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
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A 3time to kill and a time to heal; A time to teardown and a time to build up.
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A time to 4weep and a time to 5laugh; A time to mourn and a time to 6dance.
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A time to throwstones and a time to gatherstones; A time to embrace and a time to shunembracing.
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A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throwaway.
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A time to tearapart and a time to sewtogether; A time to 7be silent and a time to speak.
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A time to love and a time to 8hate; A time for war and a time for peace.
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9Whatprofit is there to the worker from that in which he toils?
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I have seen the 10taskwhichGod has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves.
God Set Eternity in the Heart of Man
11 He has 11madeeverythingappropriate in its time. He has alsoseteternity in their heart, yetso that man12will not find out the workwhichGod has done from the beginning even to the end.
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I know that there is 13nothingbetter for them than* to rejoice and to dogood in one's lifetime;
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moreover, that everymanwhoeats and drinksseesgood in all his labor -it is the 14gift of God.
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I know that everything*Goddoes will remainforever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should 15fear Him.
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That 16which* is has beenalready and that which will be has alreadybeen, for Godseeks what has passed by.
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Furthermore, I have seenunder the sun that in the place of justicethere is 17wickedness and in the place of righteousnessthere is wickedness.
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I said to myself, "18God will judge both the righteousman and the wickedman," for a 19time for everymatter and for everydeed is there.
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I said to myselfconcerning* the sons of men, "God has surely tested them in order for them to see that they are but 20beasts."
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21For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same. As onediessodies the other; indeed, they all have the samebreath and there is noadvantage for manoverbeast, for all is vanity.
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Allgo to the sameplace. Allcame from the 22dust and allreturn to the dust.
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Whoknows that the 23breath of manascendsupward and the breath of the beastdescendsdownward to the earth?
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I have seen that 24nothing is betterthan that man should be happy in his activities, for that is his lot. For who will bring him to see25what will occurafter him?