Ecclesiastes 11

1 Cast your bread over running waters. For, after a long time, you shall 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 Give a portion to seven, and indeed even to eight. For you do not know what evil may be upon the earth in the future.

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 have been filled, they will pour forth rain upon the earth. If a tree falls to the south, or to the north, or to whatever direction it may fall, there it shall remain.

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 Whoever heeds the wind will not sow. And whoever considers the clouds will never 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 In the same manner that you do not know the way of the spirit, nor the way that bones are joined together in the womb of a pregnant woman, so you do not know the works of God, who is the Maker of all.

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 In the morning, sow your seed, and in the evening, do not let your hand cease. For you do not know which of these may rise up, the one or the other. But if both rise up together, so much the better.

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 pleasant, and it is delightful for the eyes to see the sun.

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

8 If a man lives for many years, and if he has rejoiced in all of these, he must remember the many days of the dark times, which, when they will have arrived, will accuse the past of vanity.

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 So then, rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart remain in what is good during the days of your youth. And walk in the ways of your heart, and with the perception of your eyes. And know that, concerning 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 Remove anger from your heart, and set aside evil from your flesh. For youth and pleasure are empty.

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