Ecclesiastes 11

1 Send forth your bread on the face of the waters, For in the multitude of the days you find it.

把你的糧食拋到水面，多日後你必有所獲。

2 Give a portion to seven, and even to eight, For you do not know what evil is on the earth.

將你的家產分作七分八分，因為你不知道世上要發生什麼災禍。

3 If the thick clouds are full of rain, On the earth they empty [themselves]; And if a tree falls in the south or to the north, The place where the tree falls, there it is.

雲一滿了，雨就傾住於地。樹倒向南或倒向北，一倒在那裏，就躺在那裏。

4 Whoever is observing the wind does not sow, And whoever is looking on the thick clouds does not reap.

觀察風向的，必不撒種；研究雲象的，必不收割，

5 As you do not know what [is] the way of the spirit, How—bones in the womb of the full one, So you do not know the work of God who makes the whole.

就如你不知道生氣如何進入孕婦胎中的骨骼裏，同樣你也不知道天主所創造的一切化工。

6 In the morning sow your seed, And at evening do not withdraw your hand, For you do not know which is right, this or that, Or whether both of them alike [are] good.

你早上撒種，晚上也不要住手，因為你不知道：是早上撒的，或是晚上撒的長的好，或是兩種都同樣好。

7 Sweet also [is] the light, And good for the eyes to see the sun.

光明實在可愛，看見太陽實在令眼舒暢。

8 But if man lives many years, In all of them let him rejoice, And remember the days of darkness, For they are many! All that is coming [is] vanity.

人無論活了多大年紀，儘可享受各種福樂；但他應想到黑暗的日子還多，所發生的事，盡屬虛幻。

9 Rejoice, O young man, in your childhood, And let your heart gladden you in days of your youth, And walk in the ways of your heart, And in the sight of your eyes, And know that for all these, God brings you into judgment.

少年人，在你青春時應歡樂；在你少壯的時日，應心神愉快；隨你心所欲，你眼所悅的去行，但應知道：天主必要就你所行的一切審判你。

10 And turn aside anger from your heart, And cause evil to pass from your flesh, For the childhood and the age [are] vanity!

掃除你心中的煩惱，驅除你身上的痛苦，因為青春和少年都是虛幻。