Ecclesiastes 11

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

Cast thy bread upon the face of the waters; for after many days wilt thou find it again.

2 Divide a portion into seven, yea, even into eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

Give a portion to seven, and also to eight: for thou knowest not what evil may come upon the earth.—

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

If the clouds be full of rain, they will empty it out upon the earth; and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, on the place where the tree falleth, there will it remain.

4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

He that watcheth the wind will not sow; and he that gazeth on the clouds will not reap.

5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the wind, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child; even so thou knowest not the work of God who doeth all things.

As thou knowest not which is the way of the wind, as little as what is enclosed in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou canst not know the works of God who maketh all.

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 sow thy seed, and in the evening let not thy hand rest; for thou knowest not which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both of them will be alike good.

7 And the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.

Truly the light is sweet, and it is a pleasant thing for the eyes to see the sun;

8 For if a man live many years, let him rejoice in them all, and remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.

For if a man live [even] many years, let him rejoice in them all; and let him remember the days of darkness; for they will be many; all that cometh is vanity.

9 Rejoice, O 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 thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

Rejoice, O young man, in thy childhood; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youthful vigor, and walk firmly in the ways of thy heart, and in [the direction which] thy eyes see: but know thou, that concerning all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

10 Therefore remove vexation from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh; for childhood and youth are vanity.

And remove vexation from thy heart, and cause evil to pass away from thy body; for childhood and the time when the head is black are vanity.