Ecclesiastes 11
1 Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.
Send out your bread on the waters, for you will find it again after many days.
2 Divide your portion among seven, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may befall the land.
Share it with seven, even eight people, for you do not know what disasters are coming 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 empty themselves on the earth, and if a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it will remain.
4 He who watches the wind will fail to sow, and he who observes the clouds will fail to reap.
Anyone who watches the wind might not plant, and anyone who watches the clouds might not harvest.
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 do not know the path of the wind, nor how a baby's bones grow in the pregnant womb, so also you cannot comprehend the work of God, who created everything.
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 plant your seed; until the evening, work with your hands as needed, for you know not which will prosper, whether morning or evening, or this or that, or whether they will both alike be good.
7 Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.
Truly the light is sweet, and it is a pleasant thing 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 someone lives many years, let him be happy in all of them, but let him think about the coming days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is vanishing vapor.
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.
Take joy, young man, in your youth, and let your heart be joyful in the days of your youth. Pursue the good desires of your heart, and whatever is within the sight of your eyes. However, know that God will bring you into judgment for all these things.
10 So banish sorrow from your heart, and cast off pain from your body, for youth and vigor are fleeting.
Drive anger away from your heart, and ignore any pain in your body, because youth and its strength are vapor.
