For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. | To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven. |
Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. | He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. |
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So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God. | I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God. |
Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind. | Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. |
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. | Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. |
If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. | For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. |
A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. | Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. |
When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him. | When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed. |
Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! | He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity. |
The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers! | When goods increase, They increase who eat them; So what profit have the owners Except to see them with their eyes? |
We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can’t take our riches with us. | As he came from his mother’s womb, naked shall he return, To go as he came; And he shall take nothing from his labor Which he may carry away in his hand. |
Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. | Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. |
And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. | As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. |
Don’t long for “the good old days.” This is not wise. | Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not inquire wisely concerning this. |
Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. Remember that nothing is certain in this life. | In the day of prosperity be joyful, But in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, So that man can find out nothing that will come after him. |
When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong. | Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. |
So go ahead. Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this! | Go, eat your bread with joy, And drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works. |
Wise words bring approval, but fools are destroyed by their own words. | The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up. |
Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things. | As you do not know what is the way of the wind, Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, So you do not know the works of God who makes everything. |
So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless. | Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, And put away evil from your flesh, For childhood and youth are vanity. |
Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.” | Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them” |
That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. | Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. |
The greater my wisdom, the greater my grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow. | For in much wisdom is much grief, And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow. |