傳道書 11

1 把你的糧食拋到水面，多日後你必有所獲。

Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.

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。

Divide your portion among seven, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may befall the land.

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 are full, they will pour out rain upon the earth; whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie.

4 觀察風向的，必不撒種；研究雲象的，必不收割，

He who watches the wind will fail to sow, and he who observes the clouds will fail to 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 you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones are formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

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。

Sow your seed in the morning, and do not rest your hands in the evening, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or if both will equally prosper.

7 光明實在可愛，看見太陽實在令眼舒暢。

Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see 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。

So if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is futile.

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, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you to 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。

So banish sorrow from your heart, and cast off pain from your body, for youth and vigor are fleeting.