< Ecclesiastes 11 >

1 Send forth your bread upon the face of the water: for you shall find it after many days.
把你的糧食拋到水面,多日後你必有所獲。
2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for you know not what evil there shall be upon the earth.
將你的家產分作七分八分,因為你不知道世上要發生什麼災禍。
3 If the clouds be filled with rain, they pour [it] out upon the earth: and if a tree fall southward, or if it fall northward, in the place where the tree shall fall, there it shall be.
雲一滿了,雨就傾住於地。樹倒向南或倒向北,一倒在那裏,就躺在那裏。
4 He that observes the wind sows not; and he that looks at the clouds will not reap.
觀察風向的,必不撒種;研究雲象的,必不收割,
5 Amongst whom none knows what is the way of the wind: as the bones [are hid] in the womb of a pregnant [woman], so you shall not know the works of God, [even] all things whatever he shall do.
就如你不知道生氣如何進入孕婦胎中的骨骼裏,同樣你也不知道天主所創造的一切化工。
6 In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening let not your hand be slack: for you know not what sort shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether both shall be good alike.
你早上撒種,晚上也不要住手,因為你不知道:是早上撒的,或是晚上撒的長的好,或是兩種都同樣好。
7 Moreover the light is sweet, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.
光明實在可愛,看見太陽實在令眼舒暢。
8 For even if a man should live many years, [and] rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity.
人無論活了多大年紀,儘可享受各種福樂;但他應想到黑暗的日子還多,所發生的事,盡屬虛幻。
9 Rejoice, O 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 blameless, but not in the sight of your eyes: yet know that for all these things God will bring you into judgement.
少年人,在你青春時應歡樂;在你少壯的時日,應心神愉快;隨你心所欲,你眼所悅的去行,但應知道:天主必要就你所行的一切審判你。
10 Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh: for youth and folly are vanity.
掃除你心中的煩惱,驅除你身上的痛苦,因為青春和少年都是虛幻。

< Ecclesiastes 11 >