傳道書 11

1 當將你的糧食撒在水面， 因為日久必能得着。

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

2 你要分給七人，或分給八人， 因為你不知道將來有甚麼災禍臨到地上。

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

3 雲若滿了雨，就必傾倒在地上。 樹若向南倒，或向北倒， 樹倒在何處，就存在何處。

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 看風的，必不撒種； 望雲的，必不收割。

He who watches the wind will fail to sow, and he who observes the clouds will fail to reap.

5 風從何道來，骨頭在懷孕婦人的胎中如何長成，你尚且不得知道；這樣，行萬事之上帝的作為，你更不得知道。

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 早晨要撒你的種，晚上也不要歇你的手，因為你不知道哪一樣發旺；或是早撒的，或是晚撒的，或是兩樣都好。

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 光本是佳美的，眼見日光也是可悅的。

Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.

8 人活多年，就當快樂多年；然而也當想到黑暗的日子。因為這日子必多，所要來的都是虛空。

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 少年人哪，你在幼年時當快樂。在幼年的日子，使你的心歡暢，行你心所願行的，看你眼所愛看的；卻要知道，為這一切的事，上帝必審問你。

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 所以，你當從心中除掉愁煩，從肉體克去邪惡；因為一生的開端和幼年之時，都是虛空的。

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