Ecclesiastes 11

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

Put out your bread on the face of the waters; for after a long time it will come back to you again.

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

Give a part to seven or even to eight, because you have no knowledge of the evil which will be on the earth.

3 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.

If the clouds are full of rain, they send it down on the earth; and if a tree comes down to the south, or the north, in whatever place it comes down, there it will be.

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

He who is watching the wind will not get the seed planted, and he who is looking at the clouds will not get in the grain.

5 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.

As you have no knowledge of the way of the wind, or of the growth of the bones in the body of her who is with child, even so you have no knowledge of the works of God who has made all.

6 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.

In the morning put your seed into the earth, and till the evening let not your hand be at rest; because you are not certain which will do well, this or that — or if the two will be equally good.

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

Truly the light is sweet, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.

8 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.

But even if a man's life is long and he has joy in all his years, let him keep in mind the dark days, because they will be great in number. Whatever may come is to no purpose.

9 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.

Have joy, O young man, while you are young; and let your heart be glad in the days of your strength, and go in the ways of your heart, and in the desire of your eyes; but be certain that for all these things God will be your judge.

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

So put away trouble from your heart, and sorrow from your flesh; because the early years and the best years are to no purpose.