There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. 2 A time to give birth, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant. 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build. 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. 5 A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces. 6 A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away. 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak. 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. 9 What profit have workers from their toil? 10 I have seen the business that God has given to mortals to be busied about. 11 God has made everything appropriate to its time, but has put the timeless into their hearts so they cannot find out, from beginning to end, the work which God has done. 12 I recognized that there is nothing better than to rejoice and to do well during life. 13 Moreover, that all can eat and drink and enjoy the good of all their toil—this is a gift of God. 14 I recognized that whatever God does will endure forever; there is no adding to it, or taking from it. Thus has God done that he may be revered. 15 What now is has already been; what is to be, already is: God retrieves what has gone by.
Qoheleth teaches that everything has a time appointed by God and gives a series of parallels and contrasts in the next seven verses. For example, give birth and die, plant and uproot (v. 2); kill and heal, tear down and build (v. 3); weep and laugh, mourn and dance (v. 4). There is a time for desirable action and a time for undesirable action, each one appropriate for its time. But what is the result of all of man’s actions? God has not equipped mankind with the wisdom to determine the proper time. Toil has little value as it will lead to nothing (vv. 10-11). Enjoyment of life in the moment is a gift from God since one can do nothing to change what will happen (vv. 12-13). God’s will endures forever and nothing can be added to or taken away from it. The past unfolded according to God’s plan and so will the future. God is in control, and everyone must revere God. “The beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord" (Prov. 9:10).” Only God knows what is in the future so man should trust God to direct his action.
Almighty God, in your mercy, pardon our transgressions as you
alone know the secrets of our hearts. We
humbly ask you to let your Holy Spirit show us the path to take as you alone
know how the future will unfold. This we
pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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