Ecclesiastes 11

1 Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days.

Send out your bread on the waters, for you will find it again after many days.

2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

Share it with seven, even eight people, for you do not know what disasters are coming on the earth.

3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth; and if a tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.

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 that observeth the wind will not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds will not reap.

Anyone who watches the wind might not plant, and anyone who watches the clouds might not harvest.

5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, how the bones [grow] in the womb of her that is with child, even so thou knowest not the work of God who maketh all.

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 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand; for thou knowest not which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

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 Now the light is sweet, and pleasant is it to 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 but if a man live many years, [and] rejoice in them all, yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many: all that cometh is vanity.

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, young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know that for all these [things] God will bring thee into 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 Then remove discontent from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh; for childhood and youth are vanity.

Drive anger away from your heart, and ignore any pain in your body, because youth and its strength are vapor.