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 on the waters: for you shall 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, and also to eight; for you know not what evil shall be on 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 on the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it shall be.

4 觀察風向的，必不撒種；研究雲象的，必不收割，

He that observes the wind shall not sow; and he that regards 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 you know not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so you know not the works of God who makes 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 your seed, and in the evening withhold not your hand: for you know not whether shall prosper, either 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。

But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that comes 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 your youth; and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes: but know you, that for all these things God will bring you 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 your heart, and put away evil from your flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.