Ecclesiastes 11

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

Cast your bread on the waters; for you shall find it after many days.

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

Give a portion to seven, yes, even to eight; for you don’t know what evil will be on the earth.

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 of rain, they empty themselves on the earth; and if a tree falls toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there shall it be.

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

He who observes the wind won’t sow; and he who regards the clouds won’t 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 don’t know what is the way of the wind, nor how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child; even so you don’t know the work of God who does all.

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.

In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening don’t withhold your hand; for you don’t know which will prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both will be equally good.

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

Truly the light is sweet, and it is a pleasant thing for 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.

Yes, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity.

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, young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and 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 into judgment.

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

Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.