Ecclesiastes 3:1–9

THE MYSTERY OF TIME

3 There is an occasion for everything,

and a time for every activity under heaven:y

2 a time to give birth and a time to die;z

a time to plant and a time to uproot;F

3 a time to kill and a time to heal;

a time to tear down and a time to build;

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh;aa

a time to mourn and a time to dance;ab

5 a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;ac

a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing;ad

6 a time to search and a time to count as lost;

a time to keep and a time to throw away;

7 a time to tear and a time to sew;

a time to be silent and a time to speak;ae

8 a time to love and a time to hate;

a time for war and a time for peace.af

9 What does the worker gain from his struggles?ag