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 vpon the waters: for after many daies thou shalt finde it.

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。

Giue a portion to seuen, and also to eight: for thou knowest not what euill shalbe vpon ye 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, they wil powre forth raine vpon the earth: and if the tree doe fall toward the South, or toward the North, in the place that the tree falleth, there it shalbe.

4 觀察風向的，必不撒種；研究雲象的，必不收割，

He that obserueth ye winde, shall not sow, and he that regardeth the cloudes, shall not reape.

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 which is ye way of the spirit, nor how the bones doe growe in the wombe of her that is with child: so thou knowest not the worke of God that worketh 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 sowe thy seede, and in the euening let not thine hand rest: for thou knowest not whither shall prosper, this or that, or whether both shalbe a like good.

7 光明實在可愛，看見太陽實在令眼舒暢。

Surely the light is a pleasant thing: and it is a good thing to the eyes to see the sunne.

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。

Though a man liue many yeeres, and in them all he reioyce, yet hee shall remember the daies of darkenesse, because they are manie, all that commeth is vanitie.

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。

Reioyce, O yong man, in thy youth, and let thine heart cheere thee in the dayes of thy youth: and walke in the waies of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but knowe that for all these things, God wil bring thee to iudgement.

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 take away griefe out of thine heart, and cause euil to depart from thy flesh: for childehood and youth are vanitie.