Ecclesiastes 11
1 Send forth your bread upon the face of the water: for you shall find it after many days.
Send your bread out on the surface of the water, and many days later you will find it again.
2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for you know not what evil there shall be upon the earth.
Share what you own with seven or eight people, for you never know what disaster could happen.
3 If the clouds be filled with rain, they pour [it] out upon the earth: and if a tree fall southward, or if it fall northward, in the place where the tree shall fall, there it shall be.
When the clouds are full they pour rain down upon the earth. Whether a tree falls to the north or to the south, it stays where it fell.
4 He that observes the wind sows not; and he that looks at the clouds will not reap.
The farmer who pays attention to the direction of the wind knows when not to sow, and by watching the clouds knows when not to reap.
5 Among whom none knows what is the way of the wind: as the bones [are hid] in the womb of a pregnant [woman], so you shall not know the works of God, [even] all things whatever he shall do.
Just as you don't know how the breath of life comes to the child in its mother's womb, so you can't understand the work of God, the Creator of everything.
6 In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening let not your hand be slack: for you know not what sort shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether both shall be good alike.
In the morning, sow your seed. In the evening, don't stop. For you have no way of knowing which crop will grow well—one may be profitable, or the other—or maybe both.
7 Moreover the light is sweet, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.
How sweet it is to live in the light, to see the sun rise on another day.
8 For even if a man should 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.
May you live for many years, and may you enjoy them all. But remember there will many days of darkness, and all that is to come is uncertain.
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 blameless, but not in the sight of your eyes: yet know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
Young people, enjoy your youth! Be happy with what's good! While you're young, let your mind guide your life, and do as you think best. But remember that God will judge you for all your thoughts and actions.
10 Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh: for youth and folly are vanity.
So don't let your mind worry, and avoid things that hurt your body. Even so, despite youth and enthusiasm, life is still so hard to understand!
