3:1 凡事都有定期，天下万务都有定时。

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

 

3:2 生有时，死有时。栽种有时，拔出所栽种的，也有时。

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

 

3:3 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;

 

3:4 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;

 

3:5 抛掷石头有时，堆聚石头有时。怀抱有时，不怀抱有时。

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

 

3:6 寻梢有时，失落有时。保守有时，舍弃有时。

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

 

3:7 撕裂有时，缝补有时。静默有时，言语有时。

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

 

3:8 喜爱有时，恨恶有时。争战有时，和好有时。

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

 

3:9 这样看来，作事的人在他的劳碌上有什么益处呢。

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

 

3:10 我见神叫世人劳苦，使他们在其中受经练。

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

 

3:11 神造万物，各按其时成为美好。又将永生安置在世人心里。（永生原文作永远）然而神从始至终的作为，人不能叁透。

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.

 

3:12 我知道世人，莫强如终身喜乐行善。

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

 

3:13 并且人人吃喝，在他一切劳碌中享福。这也是神的恩赐。

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

 

3:14 我知道神一切所作的，都必永存，无所增添，无所减少。神这样行，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.

 

3:15 现今的事早先就有了。经来的事早已也有了。并且神使已过的事重新再来。（或作并且神再寻回已过的事）

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

3:16 我又见日光之下，在审判之处有奸恶。在公义之处也有奸恶。

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

 

3:17 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.

 

3:18 我心里说，这乃为世人的缘故，是神要试验他们，使他们觉得自己不过像兽一样。

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.

 

3:19 因为世人遭遇的，兽也遭遇。所遭遇的都是一样。这个怎样死，那个也怎样死。气息都是一样。人不能强于兽。都是虚空。

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.

 

3:20 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.

 

3:21 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?

 

3:22 故此，我见人，莫强如他经营的事上喜乐。因为这是他的分。他身后的事，谁能使他回来得见呢。

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?