Ecclesiastes 3:1-8: "1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3 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 stones, 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 tear, 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."
Psalm 33:13-15: "13 The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; 14 from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, 15 he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds."
Galatians 4:4-5: "4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons."
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The text from Ecclesiastes 3 is paraphrased in the first two verses, although not in the same order, and also appears in the last line of the hymn: "There is a time for ev'rything!"
The passage from Psalm 33 appears at the beginning of the third verse: "Eternal Lord, Your wisdom sees / And fathoms all life's tragedies; / You know our grief, You hear our sighs...."
Galatians 4:4-5 is referred to in the first half of the fourth verse: "Before all time had yet begun, / You, Father, planned to give Your Son; / Lord Jesus Christ, with timeless grace, / You have redeemed our time-bound race."
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The line "From evil times, You bring great good" in the third verse could come from Romans 8:28 ("And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.") or part of Genesis 50:20 (where Joseph tells his brothers, "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.").
The lines "Though dimly now life's path we trace, / One day we shall see face to face" at the end of the third verse are drawn from 1 Corinthians 13:12: "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known."
