傳道書 11

1 把你的糧食拋到水面，多日後你必有所獲。

Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days.

2 將你的家產分作七分八分，因為你不知道世上要發生什麼災禍。

Give a portion to seven, yea, even unto eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

3 雲一滿了，雨就傾住於地。樹倒向南或倒向北，一倒在那裏，就躺在那裏。

If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth; and if a tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there shall it be.

4 觀察風向的，必不撒種；研究雲象的，必不收割，

He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

5 就如你不知道生氣如何進入孕婦胎中的骨骼裏，同樣你也不知道天主所創造的一切化工。

As thou knowest not what is the way of the wind, [nor] how the bones [do grow] in the womb of her that is with child; even so thou knowest not the work of God who doeth all.

6 你早上撒種，晚上也不要住手，因為你不知道：是早上撒的，或是晚上撒的長的好，或是兩種都同樣好。

In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand; for thou knowest not which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

7 光明實在可愛，看見太陽實在令眼舒暢。

Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.

8 人無論活了多大年紀，儘可享受各種福樂；但他應想到黑暗的日子還多，所發生的事，盡屬虛幻。

Yea, if a man live many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.

9 少年人，在你青春時應歡樂；在你少壯的時日，應心神愉快；隨你心所欲，你眼所悅的去行，但應知道：天主必要就你所行的一切審判你。

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

10 掃除你心中的煩惱，驅除你身上的痛苦，因為青春和少年都是虛幻。

Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.