Ecclesiastes 11

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

Cast thy bread-corn, upon the face of the waters, —for, after many days, shalt thou find it:

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, yea even to eight, —for thou canst not know, what there shall be of misfortune, 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 filled with a downpour, upon the earth, will they empty themselves, and, if a tree fall in the south or in the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there will it be found.

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

He that observeth the wind, will not sow, —and, he that watcheth 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.

Just as thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, when the body is in the womb of her that is with child, even, so, canst thou not know the work 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, until evening, do not withhold thy hand, —for thou knowest not—whether shall thrive, either this or that, or whether, both alike, shall be fruitful.

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

Truly sweet is the light, —and, pleasant to 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.

But, though, many years, a man live, through them all, let him rejoice; yet let him remember the days of darkness, for many they may be, all that cometh, may be 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 youth, and let thy heart gladden thee in the days of thine early manhood, and walk thou—in the ways of thine own heart, and in that which is seen by thine own eyes, —yet know, that, for all these things, will God bring thee into judgment.

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

Therefore remove thou vexation from thy heart, and put away discomfort from thy flesh, —for, youth and dawn, are vanity!