22 For what shall a man have of all his labor and the care of his heart, that he laboreth under the sun?

23 For all his days are afflictions, and his labors are trouble; even at night his heart knows no rest. And this is vanity!

24 Nor is it in the power of man to eat and drink, and to delight his soul with his labour. I saw that this also was from the hand of God;

25 For who can eat, and who can enjoy without him?

26 For to the man who is good in his sight he giveth wisdom and knowledge and joy; but He gives care to the sinner to gather and accumulate, so that afterwards he may give to the good in the presence of God. And this is vanity and anguish of spirit!

3

1 There is a time for everything, and a time for every thing under heaven.

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to destroy, and a time to build;

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

5 A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to avoid embraces;

6 A time to seek, and a time to lose; time to save, and time to abandon;

7 A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together; a time to be silent, and a time to speak;

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

9 What profit does it profit the worker of what he is working on?

10 I saw this care which God gave to the sons of men, that they might exercise themselves in these things.

11 He made all things beautiful in their time, and put peace in their hearts, although man cannot comprehend the works that God does from the beginning to the end.

12 I knew that there is nothing better for them than to be glad, and to do good in their lives.

13 And if any man eats and drinks, and sees good in all his labour, it is a gift of God.

14 I have come to know that all that God doeth endureth for ever: to that there is nothing to be added, and of that there is nothing to be taken away, and God causes them to fear him.

15 That which was, that is now, and what is to be, that has already been, and God shall call upon the past.