万事都有定时
凡事都有定期， 天下每一事务都有定时。To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2生有时，死有时； 栽种有时，拔出☛“拔出”：原文是“拔出所栽种的”。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;
3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;
4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;
5丢石头有时，捡石头有时； 怀抱有时，不抱有时；A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6寻找有时，失落有时； 保存有时，抛弃有时；A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7撕裂有时，缝补有时； 沉默有时，说话有时；A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8喜爱有时，恨恶有时； 战争有时，和平有时。A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
9这样，做事的人在他所劳碌的事上得到什么益处呢？What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
10我观看神给世人的担子，使他们在其中劳苦：I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
11神造万物，各按其时成为美好，又将永恒安放在世人心里；然而神从始至终的作为，人不能测透。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.
12我知道，人除了终身喜乐纳福，没有一件幸福的事。I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
13并且人人吃喝，在他的一切劳碌中享福，这也是神的赏赐。And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
14我知道神所做的都必存到永远；无所增添，无所减少。神这样做，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.
15现今的事以前就有了，将来的事也早已有了，并且神使已过的事重新再来☛“使已过的事重新再来”：原文是“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.
世上的不公平
16我又见日光之下，应有公平之处有奸恶，应有公义之处也有奸恶。And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
17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.
18我心里说：“为世人的缘故，神考验他们，让他们看见自己不过像走兽一样。”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.
19因为世人遭遇的，走兽也遭遇，所遭遇的都一样：这个怎样死，那个也怎样死，他们都有一样的气息。人不能强于走兽，全是虚空；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.
20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.
21谁知道人的气息是往上升，走兽的气息是下入地呢？☛本节或译“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?
22总而言之，人能够在他经营的事上喜乐，是最好不过了，因为这是他应得的报偿。他身后的事谁能领他回来看呢？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?