When the Lord
brought home
the captives
of Zion,
it seemed to us like a dream.
Our mouths
were filled with laughter,
on our lips
were songs.
For those who are sowing,
in tears are going,
carrying
the seed.
But coming back,
they come back singing,
carrying
the sheaves.
What great things,
what marvels
has the Lord done for us;
for this
we are full of joy.
For those who are sowing…
Those who go sowing,
they are
in sadness,
but when they reap,
they shout for joy.
For those who are sowing…

There is a time for everything,
every action has its moment under heaven.
A time for being born, a time for dying,
a time for sowing, a time for reaping;
a time for killing, a time for healing,
a time for destruction, a time for rebuilding.
A time to throw stones away, a time to gather them,
a time to embrace, a time to refuse.
A time for searching, a time for losing,
a time for keeping, a time for giving:
a time for tearing, a time for mending,
a time for speaking, a time for silence.
A time for loving, a time for hating,
a time for war, a time for peace.
What does a man gain from all his efforts?
What does he profit from all his labour?
What God has done to the son of man
is truly beautiful and comes at the right time.
He has placed in man's heart the sense of eternity,
but man cannot see the whole of God’s plan.
I know there is no happiness for man,
but to enjoy the fruits of his labour;
what he eats and drinks in his life,
is nothing but a gift from the Lord.
Nothing can be added, nothing taken away,
from what the Father had already ordained
at the beginning of time.

The disciples arrived and told him:
"Rabbi eat,
Rabbi eat!."
But he answered:
"I have food to eat which you don’t know about.
My food is to do the will of him who sent me,
and to complete his work."
But don’t you say:
"Another four months
and then you have the harvest?"
But don’t you say:
"Another four months
and then you have the harvest?"
So I say to you:
"Lift up your eyes, and look at the fields
already white, waiting for the harvest."
But don’t you say...
The reapers come together,
receive their wages and gather fruit
for eternal life,
for eternal life.
But don’t you say...
I have sent you to reap,
that for which you have not laboured,
others have laboured
and you have come into the fruits of their labours,
so that sower and reaper
may rejoice together.
But don’t you say:
"Another four months
and then you have the harvest?"
But don’t you say:
"Another four months
and then you have the harvest?"

No one can serve two masters,
because loving the one, he despises the other;
you cannot serve God and money.
That’s why I tell you:
do not be anxious about your life,
what you’ll eat, what you’ll drink,
what you’ll wear;
is not life worth more than food
and your body, more than clothing?
Look at the birds of the air:
they don’t sow, they don’t reap,
yet your Father feeds them!
Look at the birds of the air:
they don’t sow, they don’t reap,
yet your Father feeds them!
And which of you, by being anxious,
can add one hour to his life?
And about clothing, why do you worry?
Look at the lilies of the field,
they don’t toil, they don’t spin;
Solomon was not dressed like them!
Look at the lilies of the field,
they don’t toil, they don’t spin;
Solomon was not dressed like them!
Seek first the Kingdom of God
and all other things will be given you as well;
you cannot serve God and money!
Seek the Kingdom of God
and all other things will be given you as well;
you cannot serve two masters!
No one can serve two masters,
because loving the one, he despises the other;
you cannot serve God and money.