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-corn, upon the face of the waters, —for, after many days, shalt thou find 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。

Give a portion to seven, yea even to eight, —for thou canst not know, what there shall be of misfortune, 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 filled with a downpour, upon the earth, will they empty themselves, and, if a tree fall in the south or in the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there will it be found.

4 觀察風向的，必不撒種；研究雲象的，必不收割，

He that observeth the wind, will not sow, —and, he that watcheth the clouds, will 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。

Just as thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, when the body is in the womb of her that is with child, even, so, canst thou not know the work of God, who maketh 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, until evening, do not withhold thy hand, —for thou knowest not—whether shall thrive, either this or that, or whether, both alike, shall be fruitful.

7 光明實在可愛，看見太陽實在令眼舒暢。

Truly sweet is the light, —and, pleasant to 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。

But, though, many years, a man live, through them all, let him rejoice; yet let him remember the days of darkness, for many they may be, all that cometh, may be 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 gladden thee in the days of thine early manhood, and walk thou—in the ways of thine own heart, and in that which is seen by thine own eyes, —yet know, that, for all these things, will God 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 thou vexation from thy heart, and put away discomfort from thy flesh, —for, youth and dawn, are vanity!