To Every Thing, There is a Season |
Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 The Book of Ecclesiastes [in Smaller Chunks] |
To every thing, there is a season & time to every purpose under the heaven. A time to be born & a time to die. A time to plant & a time to pluck up, [what] is planted. A time to kill & a time to heal. A time to break down & a time to build up. A time to weep & a time to laugh. A time to mourn & a time to dance. |
A time to [throw] away stones & a time to gather stones together. A time to embrace & a time to refrain from embracing. A time to get & a time to lose. A time to keep & a time to [throw] away. A time to [tear] & a time to sew. A time to keep [silent] & a time to speak. A time to love & a time of peace. |
What [benefit does] he have, [who engages in] that [work] in [which] he labors? I have seen the [troubles that] God has given to the sons of men, to be [engaged] in it. He has made everything beautiful in His time. |
Also He has set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God makes, from the beginning to the end. [Job 5:8-11 I would seek [for] God & I would [give] my [case] to God. [Who] does great & marvelous things, unsearchable & without number. |
Who gives rain upon the earth & sends waters upon the field: to set up on high, those [who are down, so] those [who] mourn, may be [lifted up] to safety.] I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice & to do good in his life. |
And also that every man should: eat, drink & enjoy the good [from] all his labor. It is the gift of God. I know that, [whatever] God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be [added] to it, nor anything taken from it & God does it, [so] that men should fear [respect] before [God.] |
[Isaiah 55:8-11 For My thoughts, are not your thoughts & neither are your ways, My ways, says the Lord. For [like] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways & My thoughts [higher] than your thoughts. |
For [like] the rain & the snow [come] down from heaven & [doesn't return there,] but waters the earth & makes it bud & [produce, so] that it may give seed to the sower & bread to the eater. |
So, shall My Word be that goes [forward] from My mouth. It shall not return to Me [ineffective,] but it shall accomplish [what] I please & it shall prosper in the thing [where] I sent it.] |
That which has [previously] been, is now. And that which is [yet] to be, has already been & God requires [the same cycle of events, from the] past. And [additionally,] I saw under the sun, a place of judgment, [but] wickedness was there & that [sin was in] the place of righteousness. [Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets [who] come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are [ravenous] wolves.] |
I said [within my] heart, God shall judge the righteous & the wicked. For there is a time there, for every purpose & for every work. About the [status] of the sons of men, I said [within] my heart, that God might [make] them [apparent,] & that they might see that [for] themselves, that they are [like animals.] |
For [what happens to] the sons of men, [also happens to animals.] Even [the same] thing [happens to both of] them. [Like] the one dies, the other [also] dies. [Yes,] they all have [the same] breath; so that man has no [advantage over an animal.] For all is vanity. |
All go to one place & all are of the dust & all [return] to the dust again. [Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of your face, you shall eat bread, [until] you return [into] the ground. For out of it, you were taken: For dust you [are] & unto the dust, you shall return.] |
Who knows the spirit of man that goes upward & the spirit of the [animal] that goes downward [into] the earth? [For this reason,] I [realize] that there is nothing better, than a man should rejoice in his own works. |
For that is his portion: [rewarded for all his labor.] For who shall bring him to see what shall be after him? |