Ecclesiastes 11

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

Put out your bread on the face of the waters; for after a long time it will come back to you again.

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

Give a part to seven or even to eight, because you have no knowledge of the evil which will be on the earth.

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.

If the clouds are full of rain, they send it down on the earth; and if a tree comes down to the south, or the north, in whatever place it comes down, there it will be.

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

He who is watching the wind will not get the seed planted, and he who is looking at the clouds will not get in the grain.

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.

As you have no knowledge of the way of the wind, or of the growth of the bones in the body of her who is with child, even so you have no knowledge of the works of God who has made all.

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.

In the morning put your seed into the earth, and till the evening let not your hand be at rest; because you are not certain which will do well, this or that — or if the two will be equally good.

7 Truly 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 good for the eyes to see the sun.

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.

But even if a man's life is long and he has joy in all his years, let him keep in mind the dark days, because they will be great in number. Whatever may come is to no purpose.

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.

Have joy, O young man, while you are young; and let your heart be glad in the days of your strength, and go in the ways of your heart, and in the desire of your eyes; but be certain that for all these things God will be your judge.

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

So put away trouble from your heart, and sorrow from your flesh; because the early years and the best years are to no purpose.