Ecclesiastes 3

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

Everything has its own perfect moment, and each purpose finds its time under the sky.

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

There's a moment for birth, and a moment for death; a season for sowing seeds, and a season for harvesting what's grown.

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

There is a time to kill, and a time to heal; times when we must dismantle, and times when we must construct anew.

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

There are moments for tears and moments for laughter; times for sorrow and times for celebration.

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

There are moments to let go and moments to hold on; moments to hug, and moments to keep distance.

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

There are moments to gain and moments to let go; times to hold on and times to release.

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

There are moments to tear apart and moments to mend; times to stay quiet, and times to voice out.

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

There are moments to love, and moments to hate; moments to fight bravely, and moments to embrace peace.

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

What does a worker really gain from all his hard work?

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

I've witnessed the heavy burden that God has laid on humanity to keep them occupied.

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.

God has created everything beautifully in His perfect timing. He has also set a sense of eternity in our hearts, yet His divine works from start to finish remain a mystery to us.

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

I understand that there's no real value in them, except for a person to find joy and to do good during their lifetime.

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

God desires for each person to relish the fruits of their hard work, to savor each meal and drink, for these blessings are His divine gifts.

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.

Everything God does is eternal and unchangeable, done to inspire awe and reverence in us.

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

What has happened is happening now; what will happen has already occurred. And God calls the past to account.

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

I observed in our world, even in places meant for justice, evil was present. And in places meant for goodness, I found wrongdoing.

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.

In my heart, I realized, God will fairly judge both the good and bad. Because every action and intention has its own perfect timing.

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.

In my heart, I pondered on humanity's condition: God puts them to the test to show them that they themselves are no more than animals.

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.

Humans and animals share the same fate - both live and die. We all breathe the same breath of life. So, no one, not even humans, are superior to animals. After all, everything is fleeting.

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

We all share the same destiny; we are born from the dust, and to the dust, we shall return.

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

Who truly understands the human spirit that ascends, and the animal spirit that descends back to the earth?

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?

I've come to understand that there's no greater joy than taking pride in your own accomplishments. That's your true reward. After all, who can show you what's to come after your time?