* The timeless: others translate вЂњeternity,вЂќ вЂњthe world,вЂќ or вЂњdarkness.вЂќ The author credits God with keeping human beings ignorant about GodвЂ™s вЂњworkвЂќ-present and future. Human beings cannot know that moment further, the wider course of events and purposes fixed by God are beyond them as well. The poem affirms that God has determined the appropriate moment or вЂњtimeвЂќ for each. * The fourteen pairs of opposites describe various human activities. Who will let them see what is to come after them? i Human beings have no advantage over beasts, but all is vanity.Дў0 g Both go to the same place both were made from the dust, and to the dust they both return.Дў1Who knows * if the life breath of mortals goes upward and the life breath of beasts goes earthward?Дў2 h And I saw that there is nothing better for mortals than to rejoice in their work for this is their lot. * 18I said in my heart: As for human beings, it is GodвЂ™s way of testing them and of showing that they are in themselves like beasts.ДЎ9For the lot of mortals and the lot of beasts is the same lot: The one dies as well as the other. 16 e And still under the sun in the judgment place I saw wickedness, and wickedness also in the seat of justice.ДЎ7 f I said in my heart, both the just and the wicked God will judge, since a time is set for every affair and for every work. Thus has God done that he may be revered.ДЎ5 * d What now is has already been what is to be, already is: God retrieves what has gone by. CHAPTER 3 No One Can Determine the Right Time to ActДЎ * There is an appointed time for everything,ДЄnd a time for every affair under the heavens.ДўA time to give birth, and a time to die ДЄ time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant.ДЄ time to tear down, and a time to build.ДҐA time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them ДЄ time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.ДЄ time to be silent, and a time to speak.Д© a What profit have workers from their toil?ДЎ0I have seen the business that God has given to mortals to be busied about.ДЎ1 b 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.ДЎ2 c I recognized that there is nothing better than to rejoice and to do well during life.ДЎ3Moreover, that all can eat and drink and enjoy the good of all their toil-this is a gift of God.ДЎ4I recognized that whatever God does will endure forever there is no adding to it, or taking from it.

L2phx 3.1.8 interlude