Ecclesiastes 3

凡事都有定期，天下万务都有定时。

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

生有时，死有时；栽种有时，拔出所栽种的也有时；

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

杀戮有时，医治有时；拆毁有时，建造有时；

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

哭有时，笑有时；哀恸有时，跳舞有时；

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

抛掷石头有时，堆聚石头有时；怀抱有时，不怀抱有时；

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

寻找有时，失落有时；保守有时，舍弃有时；

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

撕裂有时，缝补有时；静默有时，言语有时；

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

喜爱有时，恨恶有时；争战有时，和好有时。

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

这样看来，做事的人在他的劳碌上有什么益处呢？

What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

我见　神叫世人劳苦，使他们在其中受经练。

I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

　神造万物，各按其时成为美好，又将永生（原文是永远）安置在世人心里。然而　神从始至终的作为，人不能参透。

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

我知道世人，莫强如终身喜乐行善；

I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

并且人人吃喝，在他一切劳碌中享福，这也是　神的恩赐。

And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

我知道　神一切所做的都必永存；无所增添，无所减少。　神这样行，是要人在他面前存敬畏的心。

I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

现今的事早先就有了，将来的事早已也有了，并且　神使已过的事重新再来（或译：并且　神再寻回已过的事）。

That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

我又见日光之下，在审判之处有奸恶，在公义之处也有奸恶。

And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.

我心里说，　神必审判义人和恶人；因为在那里，各样事务，一切工作，都有定时。

I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

我心里说，这乃为世人的缘故，是　神要试验他们，使他们觉得自己不过像兽一样。

I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

因为世人遭遇的，兽也遭遇，所遭遇的都是一样：这个怎样死，那个也怎样死，气息都是一样。人不能强于兽，都是虚空。

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 a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.

都归一处，都是出于尘土，也都归于尘土。

All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

谁知道人的灵是往上升，兽的魂是下入地呢？

Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

故此，我见人莫强如在他经营的事上喜乐，因为这是他的分。他身后的事谁能使他回来得见呢？

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