Number One Hit With the Oldest Lyrics

 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, a time to reap that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain that which is to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time of love, and a time of hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.  

These lyrics are from Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8.  These words are traditionally credited to King Solomon who would have written it in the 10th century, BC.  Pete seeger wrote the song in a way.  The only words he wrote were "Turn!  Turn!  Turn!" and the rest of the lyrics were from Ecclesiastes but rearranged to stress the message which was "peace."

Peace was tantamount on everyone's minds when Seeger wrote this due to the Vietnam War.  Then in 1999, Pete Seeger had 45% of the royalties to be donated to the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions.  

There are a few songs whose inspiration was the Bible.  Other examples are the "Rivers of Babylon, the Lord's Prayer, U2's "40", Sinead O'Connor's "Psalm 33" and Cliff Richard's "The Millennium Prayer."