Two Hebrew words here, zeman (a fixed season) and eth (a specific moment). Both are used to underscore divine timing in human experience.

"Under the heaven" is Solomon's phrase throughout Ecclesiastes for life as observed from the human side — the realm of finitude.

The pairs begin with the bookends of human existence. Both are appointed; neither is in our control. Birth and death frame everything in between.

"A time to die" — every soul has one. Awareness of this is wisdom (Psalm 90:12); avoidance of it is folly.

Both responses are sanctioned. The believer is not commanded to be always cheerful nor always somber. Joy in joyful seasons, sorrow in sorrowful ones.

A church that cannot weep with those who weep, or rejoice with those who rejoice (Romans 12:15), has not learned this chapter.

Wisdom is knowing which time it is. The fool speaks when silence is needed; the coward stays silent when speech is required.

Job's friends sat in silence with him seven days (Job 2:13) — wise. Then they spoke — and were rebuked. They mistook the times.

"World in their heart" — Hebrew olam, literally "eternity." God has placed eternity in the human heart. This is why no temporal pleasure ever fully satisfies — we were made for what is outside time.

This single phrase explains every human longing for meaning. The ache for something more is not malfunction; it is design. The hole was put there to drive us to the One who fills it.

"No man can find out" — Solomon's humility before the depth of God's providence. The whole picture is not given to us; we are called to trust the Painter.

In contrast to all the changing "times" of verses 1-8, God's work stands forever. We live in seasons; He lives in eternity.

The purpose of His unchanging work is that men should fear Him. Stability in God should produce reverence in us.