Ecclesiastes 11

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

當將你的糧食撒在水面， 因為日久必能得着。

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

你要分給七人，或分給八人， 因為你不知道將來有甚麼災禍臨到地上。

3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon 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.

雲若滿了雨，就必傾倒在地上。 樹若向南倒，或向北倒， 樹倒在何處，就存在何處。

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

看風的，必不撒種； 望雲的，必不收割。

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.

風從何道來，骨頭在懷孕婦人的胎中如何長成，你尚且不得知道；這樣，行萬事之上帝的作為，你更不得知道。

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.

早晨要撒你的種，晚上也不要歇你的手，因為你不知道哪一樣發旺；或是早撒的，或是晚撒的，或是兩樣都好。

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

光本是佳美的，眼見日光也是可悅的。

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.

人活多年，就當快樂多年；然而也當想到黑暗的日子。因為這日子必多，所要來的都是虛空。

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.

少年人哪，你在幼年時當快樂。在幼年的日子，使你的心歡暢，行你心所願行的，看你眼所愛看的；卻要知道，為這一切的事，上帝必審問你。

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

所以，你當從心中除掉愁煩，從肉體克去邪惡；因為一生的開端和幼年之時，都是虛空的。