傳道書 11

1 當將你的糧食撒在水面， 因為日久必能得着。

Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days.

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 a portion into seven, yea, even into eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

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 be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth; and if a tree fall in the south, or in the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there shall it be.

4 看風的，必不撒種； 望雲的，必不收割。

He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not 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 thou knowest not what is the way of the wind, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child; even so thou knowest not the work of God who doeth 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。

In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand; for thou knowest not which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

7 光本是佳美的，眼見日光也是可悅的。

And the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold 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。

For if a man live many years, let him rejoice in them all, and remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.

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, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into 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。

Therefore remove vexation from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh; for childhood and youth are vanity.