Ecclesiastes 11

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

Cast thy bread upon the running waters: for after a long time thou shalt find it again.

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

Give a portion to seven, and also to eight: for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon 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 be full, they will pour out rain upon the earth. If the tree fall to the south, or to the north, in what place soever it shall fall, there shall it be.

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

He that observeth the wind, shall not sow: and he that considereth the clouds, shall never reap.

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 thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones are joined together in the womb of her that is with child: so thou knowest not the works of God, who is the maker of 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 sow thy seed, and In the evening let not thy hand cease: for thou knowest not which may rather spring up, this or that: and if both together, it shall be the better.

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

The light is sweet, and it is delightful 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.

If a man live many years, and have rejoiced in them all, he must remember the darksome time, and the many days: which when they shall come, the things past shall be accused of vanity.

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.

Rejoice therefore, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart be in that which is good in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thy eyes: and know that for all these God will bring thee into judgment.

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

Remove anger from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh. For youth and pleasure are vain.