Ecclesiastes 11
1 Send your bread out on the surface of the water, and many days later you will find it again.
Cast thy bread vpon the waters: for after many daies thou shalt finde it.
2 Share what you own with seven or eight people, for you never know what disaster could happen.
Giue a portion to seuen, and also to eight: for thou knowest not what euill shalbe vpon ye earth.
3 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.
If the clouds be full, they wil powre forth raine vpon the earth: and if the tree doe fall toward the South, or toward the North, in the place that the tree falleth, there it shalbe.
4 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.
He that obserueth ye winde, shall not sow, and he that regardeth the cloudes, shall not reape.
5 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.
As thou knowest not which is ye way of the spirit, nor how the bones doe growe in the wombe of her that is with child: so thou knowest not the worke of God that worketh all.
6 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.
In the morning sowe thy seede, and in the euening let not thine hand rest: for thou knowest not whither shall prosper, this or that, or whether both shalbe a like good.
7 How sweet it is to live in the light, to see the sun rise on another day.
Surely the light is a pleasant thing: and it is a good thing to the eyes to see the sunne.
8 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.
Though a man liue many yeeres, and in them all he reioyce, yet hee shall remember the daies of darkenesse, because they are manie, all that commeth is vanitie.
9 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.
Reioyce, O yong man, in thy youth, and let thine heart cheere thee in the dayes of thy youth: and walke in the waies of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but knowe that for all these things, God wil bring thee to iudgement.
10 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!
Therefore take away griefe out of thine heart, and cause euil to depart from thy flesh: for childehood and youth are vanitie.
