For every activity there is a right time and procedure,(A) even though man’s troubles are heavy on him. Yet no one knows what will happen(B) because who can tell him what will happen? No one has authority over the wind[a] to restrain it,(C) and there is no authority over the day of death;(D) there is no furlough in battle, and wickedness will not allow those who practice it to escape.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 8:8 Or life-breath

For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter,(A)
    though a person may be weighed down by misery.

Since no one knows the future,
    who can tell someone else what is to come?
As no one has power over the wind to contain it,
    so[a] no one has power over the time of their death.
As no one is discharged in time of war,
    so wickedness will not release those who practice it.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 8:8 Or over the human spirit to retain it, / and so