传道书 11

1 当将你的粮食撒在水面， 因为日久必能得着。

Send your bread out on the surface of the water, and many days later you will find it again.

2 你要分给七人，或分给八人， 因为你不知道将来有什么灾祸临到地上。

Share what you own with seven or eight people, for you never know what disaster could happen.

3 云若满了雨，就必倾倒在地上。 树若向南倒，或向北倒， 树倒在何处，就存在何处。

When the clouds are full they pour rain down upon the earth. Whether a tree falls to the north or to the south, it stays where it fell.

4 看风的，必不撒种； 望云的，必不收割。

The farmer who pays attention to the direction of the wind knows when not to sow, and by watching the clouds knows when not to reap.

5 风从何道来，骨头在怀孕妇人的胎中如何长成，你尚且不得知道；这样，行万事之 神的作为，你更不得知道。

Just as you don't know how the breath of life comes to the child in its mother's womb, so you can't understand the work of God, the Creator of everything.

6 早晨要撒你的种，晚上也不要歇你的手，因为你不知道哪一样发旺；或是早撒的，或是晚撒的，或是两样都好。

In the morning, sow your seed. In the evening, don't stop. For you have no way of knowing which crop will grow well—one may be profitable, or the other—or maybe both.

7 光本是佳美的，眼见日光也是可悦的。

How sweet it is to live in the light, to see the sun rise on another day.

8 人活多年，就当快乐多年；然而也当想到黑暗的日子。因为这日子必多，所要来的都是虚空。

May you live for many years, and may you enjoy them all. But remember there will many days of darkness, and all that is to come is uncertain.

9 少年人哪，你在幼年时当快乐。在幼年的日子，使你的心欢畅，行你心所愿行的，看你眼所爱看的；却要知道，为这一切的事， 神必审问你。

Young people, enjoy your youth! Be happy with what's good! While you're young, let your mind guide your life, and do as you think best. But remember that God will judge you for all your thoughts and actions.

10 所以，你当从心中除掉愁烦，从肉体克去邪恶；因为一生的开端和幼年之时，都是虚空的。

So don't let your mind worry, and avoid things that hurt your body. Even so, despite youth and enthusiasm, life is still so hard to understand!