Ecclesiastes 3 Parallel Bible Translations

Ecclesiastes 3 ▼
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BISHOPS
Bishops' Bible of 1568
ESV
English Standard Version
NIV
New International Version
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1 Euery thyng hath a tyme, yea all that is vnder the heaue hath his conuenient season. For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 There is a tyme to be borne, and a tyme to dye: there is a tyme to plant, and a tyme to plucke vp the thyng that is planted. a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 A tyme to slay, and a tyme to make whole: a tyme to breake downe, and a tyme to builde vp. a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 A tyme to weepe, and a tyme to laugh: a tyme to mourne, & a tyme to daunce. a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 A tyme to cast away stones, and a tyme to gather stones together: A tyme to imbrace, and a tyme to refrayne from imbracyng. a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 A tyme to wynne, and a tyme to lose: A tyme to spare, and a tyme to spende. a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 A tyme to cut in peeces, and a tyme to sowe together: A tyme to kepe scilence, and a tyme to speake. a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 A tyme to loue, and a tyme to hate: A tyme of warre, and a tyme of peace. a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
9 What hath a man els that doth any thyng, but weerinesse and labour? What gain has the worker from his toil? What do workers gain from their toil?
10 For as touchyng the trauayle and carefulnesse which God hath geuen vnto men, I see that he hath geuen it them to be exercised in it. I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race.
11 All this hath he ordeyned marueilous goodly, to euery thyng his due tyme: He hath planted ignoraunce also in the heartes of men, that they shoulde not comprehende the ground of his workes which he doth from the begynnyng to the ende. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
12 So I perceaued that in those thinges there is nothyng better for a man then to be mery, and to do well as long as he lyueth. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.
13 For all that a man eateth & drynketh, yea whatsoeuer a man enioyeth of all his labour: that same is a gyft of God. also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.
14 I considered also that whatsoeuer God doth, it continueth for euer: And that nothyng can be put vnto it, nor taken from it, & that God doth it to the intent that men shoulde feare hym. I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
15 The thyng that hath ben, is nowe: and the thyng that is for to come, hath ben afore time: for God restoreth againe the thyng that was past. That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away. Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.
16 Moreouer, I sawe vnder the sunne vngodlynes in the steade of iudgement, & iniquitie in steade of righteousnesse. Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness. And I saw something else under the sun: In the place of judgment—wickedness was there, in the place of justice—wickedness was there.
17 Then thought I in my mynde, God shall separate the ryghteous from the vngodly: and then shalbe the tyme and iudgement of all counsayles & workes. I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work. I said to myself, “God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed.”
18 I communed with myne owne heart also concernyng the children of men, howe God hath chosen them, and yet letteth them appeare as though they were beastes. I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals.
19 For it happeneth vnto men as it doth vnto beastes, euen one condition vnto them both: as the one dyeth so dyeth the other, yea they haue both one maner of breath: so that in this a man hath no preeminence aboue a beast, but are all subdued vnto vanitie. For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless.
20 They go all vnto one place: for as they be all of dust, so shall they all turne vnto dust agayne. All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return. All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.
21 Who knoweth the spirite of man that goeth vpwarde, & the breath of the beast that goeth downe to the earth? Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth? Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”
22 Wherfore I perceaue that there is nothyng better for a man then to be ioyfull in his labour, for that is his portion: But who wyll bryng hym to see the thyng that shall come after hym? So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him? So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?
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