Parallel Bible results for "ecclesiastes 3:1-15"

Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

MSG

NIV

1 There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:
1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 A right time for birth and another for death, A right time to plant and another to reap,
2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 A right time to kill and another to heal, A right time to destroy and another to construct,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 A right time to cry and another to laugh, A right time to lament and another to cheer,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 A right time to make love and another to abstain, A right time to embrace and another to part,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 A right time to search and another to count your losses, A right time to hold on and another to let go,
6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 A right time to rip out and another to mend, A right time to shut up and another to speak up,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 A right time to love and another to hate, A right time to wage war and another to make peace.
8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
9 But in the end, does it really make a difference what anyone does?
9 What do workers gain from their toil?
10 I've had a good look at what God has given us to do - busywork, mostly.
10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race.
11 True, God made everything beautiful in itself and in its time - but he's left us in the dark, so we can never know what God is up to, whether he's coming or going.
11 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 I've decided that there's nothing better to do than go ahead and have a good time and get the most we can out of life.
12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.
13 That's it - eat, drink, and make the most of your job. It's God's gift.
13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.
14 I've also concluded that whatever God does, that's the way it's going to be, always. No addition, no subtraction. God's done it and that's it. That's so we'll quit asking questions and simply worship in holy fear.
14 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 Whatever was, is. Whatever will be, is. That's how it always is with God.
15 Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.