Ecclesiastes 11

1 Cast thy bread vpon the waters: for after many daies thou shalt finde it.

Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.

2 Giue a portion to seuen, and also to eight: for thou knowest not what euill shalbe vpon ye earth.

Divide your portion among seven, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may befall the land.

3 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.

If the clouds are full, they will pour out rain upon the earth; whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie.

4 He that obserueth ye winde, shall not sow, and he that regardeth the cloudes, shall not reape.

He who watches the wind will fail to sow, and he who observes the clouds will fail to reap.

5 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.

As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones are formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

6 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.

Sow your seed in the morning, and do not rest your hands in the evening, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or if both will equally prosper.

7 Surely the light is a pleasant thing: and it is a good thing to the eyes to see the sunne.

Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.

8 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.

So if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is futile.

9 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.

Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.

10 Therefore take away griefe out of thine heart, and cause euil to depart from thy flesh: for childehood and youth are vanitie.

So banish sorrow from your heart, and cast off pain from your body, for youth and vigor are fleeting.