Ecclesiastes 11
1 Cast your bread over running waters. For, after a long time, you shall find it again.
Send your bread out on the surface of the water, and many days later you will find it 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.
Share what you own with seven or eight people, for you never know what disaster could happen.
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.
When the clouds are full they pour rain down upon the earth. Whether a tree falls to the north or to the south, it stays where it fell.
4 Whoever heeds the wind will not sow. And whoever considers the clouds will never reap.
The farmer who pays attention to the direction of the wind knows when not to sow, and by watching the clouds knows when not to reap.
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.
Just as you don't know how the breath of life comes to the child in its mother's womb, so you can't understand the work of God, the Creator of everything.
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, sow your seed. In the evening, don't stop. For you have no way of knowing which crop will grow well—one may be profitable, or the other—or maybe both.
7 Light is pleasant, and it is delightful for the eyes to see the sun.
How sweet it is to live in the light, to see the sun rise on another day.
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.
May you live for many years, and may you enjoy them all. But remember there will many days of darkness, and all that is to come is uncertain.
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.
Young people, enjoy your youth! Be happy with what's good! While you're young, let your mind guide your life, and do as you think best. But remember that God will judge you for all your thoughts and actions.
10 Remove anger from your heart, and set aside evil from your flesh. For youth and pleasure are empty.
So don't let your mind worry, and avoid things that hurt your body. Even so, despite youth and enthusiasm, life is still so hard to understand!
