---
title: Joseph Smith Translation (1867 edition)
description: Ecclesiastes from the Joseph Smith Translation (JST), 1867 edition.
authors:
  - Smith, Joseph, Jr.
collections:
  - joseph-smith
tags:
  - translation
published: "1867"
publisher: RLDS Publication Board
publisher_place: Plano, Illinois
publisher_note: "The title page reads: Published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; Joseph Smith, I. L. Rogers, E. Robinson, Publishing Committee; 1867."
edition: First edition (Plano, 1867)
language: en
type: book
chapter: 3
verse_count: 22
reference: "Joseph Smith Jr., *Joseph Smith Translation*, first edition (Plano, IL: RLDS Publication Board, 1867), Ecclesiastes, chap. 3, https://archive.org/details/holyscripturestr00smituoft."
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/holyscripturestr00smituoft
  identifier: holyscripturestr00smituoft
  scan: University of Toronto / Trinity College Library copy, Internet Archive
  transcription: "OCR text of the 1867 scans (Toronto copy and a second copy, holyscriptures00smit), reconciled word by word; Romans was also checked against the page images. Method, per-chapter validation log and known limits: docs/jst-1867-import.md."
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: 1867 US publication
  source: https://archive.org/details/holyscripturestr00smituoft
  publication_year: 1867
---

# Ecclesiastes 3

*Necessary change of times Excellency in God's works. season, purpose*

**1** To every thing there is and a time to every under heaven;
**2** that which is planted;
**3** A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
**4** A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
**5** to refrain from embracing;
**6** A time to get, 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 keep silence, 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 hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
**10** I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
**11** 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** I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. I
**13** And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
**14** 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** That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been, and God requireth that which is past.
**16** 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** 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** I said in mine heart concerning the estates of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
**19** 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 pre-eminence above a beast; for all is vanity.
**20** All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
**21** Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
**22** 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?