Ecclesiastes 11

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

Baci kruh svoj na vodu i naći ćeš ga poslije mnogo vremena.

2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for you know not what evil shall be on the earth.

Podijeli sedmorici ili osmorici, jer ne znaš kakvo će zlo zadesiti zemlju.

3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it shall be.

Kad se oblaci napune kišom, prosiplju je na zemlju, a padne li drvo na jug ili na sjever, svejedno: gdje padne, ondje i ostaje.

4 He that observes the wind shall not sow; and he that regards the clouds shall not reap.

Tko pazi na vjetar, ne sije, i tko gleda na oblake, ne žanje.

5 As you know not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so you know not the works of God who makes all.

Kao što ne znaš koji je put vjetru ni kako postaju kosti u utrobi trudne žene, tako ne znaš ni djela Boga koji sve tvori.

6 In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening withhold not your hand: for you know not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

Ujutro sij svoje sjeme, a navečer nek' ti ruka ne počiva. Jer ne znaš da li će biti bolje ovo ili ono, ili će oboje biti jednako dobro.

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

Ljupka je svjetlost i ugodno je očima vidjeti sunce.

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

Ali ako čovjek živi i mnogo godina, neka se uvijek veseli, a neka se sjeti da će tamnih dana biti mnogo. Ispraznost je sve što će doći.

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

Zato se raduj, mladiću, za svoje mladosti, i veseli se u danima svoga mladenaštva; idi putovima svoga srca i slijedi želje svojih očiju; ali znaj da će ti za sve to suditi Bog.

10 Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

Ukloni dakle jad iz svoga srca i udalji bol od svojega tijela. Ali je isprazna i mladost i doba tamnih kosa.