1For everything there is a fixed time, and a time for every business under the sun. 2A time for birth and a time for death; a time for planting and a time for uprooting; 3A time to put to death and a time to make well; a time for pulling down and a time for building up; 4A time for weeping and a time for laughing; a time for sorrow and a time for dancing; 5A time to take stones away and a time to get stones together; a time for kissing and a time to keep from kissing; 6A time for search and a time for loss; a time to keep and a time to give away; 7A time for undoing and a time for stitching; a time for keeping quiet and a time for talk; 8A time for love and a time for hate; a time for war and a time for peace. 9What profit has the worker in the work which he does? 10I saw the work which God has put on the sons of man. 11He has made everything right in its time; but he has made their hearts without knowledge, so that man is unable to see the works of God, from the first to the last. 12I am certain that there is nothing better for a man than to be glad, and to do good while life is in him. 13And for every man to take food and drink, and have joy in all his work, is a reward from God. 14I am certain that whatever God does will be for ever. No addition may be made to it, nothing may be taken from it; and God has done it so that man may be in fear before him. 15Whatever is has been before, and what is to be is now; because God makes search for the things which are past. 16And again, I saw under the sun, in the place of the judges, that evil was there; and in the place of righteousness, that evil was there. 17I said in my heart, God will be judge of the good and of the bad; because a time for every purpose and for every work has been fixed by him. 18I said in my heart, It is because of the sons of men, so that God may put them to the test and that they may see themselves as beasts. 19Because the fate of the sons of men and the fate of the beasts is the same. As is the death of one so is the death of the other, and all have one spirit. Man is not higher than the beasts; because all is to no purpose. 20All go to one place, all are of the dust, and all will be turned to dust again. 21Who is certain that the spirit of the sons of men goes up to heaven, or that the spirit of the beasts goes down to the earth? 22So I saw that there is nothing better than for a man to have joy in his work--because that is his reward. Who will make him see what will come after him?
Matthew Henry's Commentary
The changes of human affairs. (1-10) The Divine counsels unchangeable. (11-15) The vanity of worldly power. (16-22) 1-10 To expect unchanging happiness in a changing world, must end in disappointment. To bring ourselves to our state in life, is our duty and wisdom in this world. God's whole plan for the government of the world will be found altogether wise, just, and good. Then let us seize the favourable opportunity for every good purpose and work. The time to die is fast approaching. Thus labour and sorrow fill the world. This is given us, that we may always have something to do; none were sent into the world to be idle. 11-15 Every thing is as God made it; not as it appears to us. We have the world so much in our hearts, are so taken up with thoughts and cares of worldly things, that we have neither time nor spirit to see God's hand in them. The world has not only gained possession of the heart, but has formed thoughts against the beauty of God's works. We mistake if we think we were born for ourselves; no, it is our business to do good in this life, which is short and uncertain; we have but little time to be doing good, therefore we should redeem time. Satisfaction with Divine Providence, is having faith that all things work together for good to them that love him. God doeth all, that men should fear before him. The world, as it has been, is, and will be. There has no change befallen us, nor has any temptation by it taken us, but such as is common to men. 16-22 Without the fear of the Lord, man is but vanity; set that aside, and judges will not use their power well. And there is another Judge that stands before the door. With God there is a time for the redressing of grievances, though as yet we see it not. Solomon seems to express his wish that men might perceive, that by choosing this world as their portion, they brought themselves to a level with the beasts, without being free, as they are, from present vexations and a future account. Both return to the dust from whence they were taken. What little reason have we to be proud of our bodies, or bodily accomplishments! But as none can fully comprehend, so few consider properly, the difference between the rational soul of man, and the spirit or life of the beast. The spirit of man goes upward, to be judged, and is then fixed in an unchangeable state of happiness or misery. It is as certain that the spirit of the beast goes downward to the earth; it perishes at death. Surely their case is lamentable, the height of whose hopes and wishes is, that they may die like beasts. Let our inquiry be, how an eternity of existence may be to us an eternity of enjoyment? To answer this, is the grand design of revelation. Jesus is revealed as the Son of God, and the Hope of sinners.