Ecclesiastes 11

1 Cast thy bread upon the face of the waters; for after many days wilt thou find it again.

Send out your bread on the waters, for you will find it again after many days.

2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight: for thou knowest not what evil may come upon the earth.—

Share it with seven, even eight people, for you do not know what disasters are coming on the earth.

3 If the clouds be full of rain, they will empty it out upon the earth; and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, on the place where the tree falleth, there will it remain.

If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth, and if a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it will remain.

4 He that watcheth the wind will not sow; and he that gazeth on the clouds will not reap.

Anyone who watches the wind might not plant, and anyone who watches the clouds might not harvest.

5 As thou knowest not which is the way of the wind, as little as what is enclosed in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou canst not know the works of God who maketh all.

As you do not know the path of the wind, nor how a baby's bones grow in the pregnant womb, so also you cannot comprehend the work of God, who created everything.

6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening let not thy hand rest; for thou knowest not which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both of them will be alike good.

In the morning plant your seed; until the evening, work with your hands as needed, for you know not which will prosper, whether morning or evening, or this or that, or whether they will both alike be good.

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

Truly the light is sweet, and it is a pleasant thing for the eyes to see the sun.

8 For if a man live [even] many years, let him rejoice in them all; and let him remember the days of darkness; for they will be many; all that cometh is vanity.

If someone lives many years, let him be happy in all of them, but let him think about the coming days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is vanishing vapor.

9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy childhood; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youthful vigor, and walk firmly in the ways of thy heart, and in [the direction which] thy eyes see: but know thou, that concerning all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

Take joy, young man, in your youth, and let your heart be joyful in the days of your youth. Pursue the good desires of your heart, and whatever is within the sight of your eyes. However, know that God will bring you into judgment for all these things.

10 And remove vexation from thy heart, and cause evil to pass away from thy body; for childhood and the time when the head is black are vanity.

Drive anger away from your heart, and ignore any pain in your body, because youth and its strength are vapor.