A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted.
These are works of human life, but they are not in our hands any more than life itself is. In the spring there is planting, in the autumn there is plucking up. All of this is as God gives and ordains it, and it cannot be done otherwise by us.
- 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. a time to cast away and a time to gather stones together;a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 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 keep silence, and a time to speak; 8. a time to love, and a time to hate;a time for war, and a time for peace.
This catalog requires experience, so that it may be applied to the entire course of life. For this is what happens: one man plants, and another plucks; or one man acquires, and another tears down. In short, for each of the works of human life there is a defined time, outside of which, regardless of what you do, you will accomplish nothing and work in vain. There is a time to weep, there is a time to laugh. It often happens that when we want to be very joyous, a sudden disturbance arises. Therefore joy has its appointed time. Experience proves all of this, namely, that by our own counsels we can achieve nothing, but whatever is to be done is presented to us at its appointed time. Therefore let us not torment ourselves about future things, but enjoy present things. (Luther’s Works, v.15 p.51-52)
