JPS - Ecclesiastes - 3

3:1  To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

3:2  A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3:3  A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

3:4  A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

3:5  A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

3:6  A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

3:7  A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

3:8  A time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

3:9  What profit hath he that worketh in that he laboureth?

3:10  I have seen the task which G-d hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.

3:11  He hath made every thing beautiful in its time; also He hath set the world in their heart, yet so that man cannot find out the work that G-d hath done from the beginning even to the end.

3:12  I know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to get pleasure so long as they live.

3:13  But also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy pleasure for all his labour, is the gift of G-d.

3:14  I know that, whatsoever G-d doeth, it shall be for ever; nothing can be added to it, nor any thing taken from it; and G-d hath so made it, that men should fear before Him.

3:15  That which is hath been long ago, and that which is to be hath already been; and G-d seeketh that which is pursued.

3:16  And moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.

3:17  I said in my heart: 'The righteous and the wicked G-d will judge; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.'

3:18  I said in my heart: 'It is because of the sons of men, that G-d may sift them, and that they may see that they themselves are but as beasts.'

3:19  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 man hath no pre-eminence above a beast; for all is vanity.

3:20  All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all return to dust.

3:21  Who knoweth the spirit of man whether it goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast whether it goeth downward to the earth?

3:22  Wherefore I perceived that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion; for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?