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 on the waters; for you shall 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。

Give a portion to seven, yes, even to eight; for you don’t know what evil will be on 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 are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth; and if a tree falls toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there shall it be.

4 看風的，必不撒種； 望雲的，必不收割。

He who observes the wind won’t sow; and he who regards the clouds won’t 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 don’t know what is the way of the wind, nor how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child; even so you don’t know the work of God who does all.

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 your seed, and in the evening don’t withhold your hand; for you don’t know which will prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both will be equally good.

7 光本是佳美的，眼見日光也是可悅的。

Truly the light is sweet, and it is a pleasant thing for 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。

Yes, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that comes 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, 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 that for all these things God will bring you 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 sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.