Ecclesiastes 11

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

Cast your bread over running waters. For, after a long time, you shall find it again.

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

Give a portion to seven, and indeed even to eight. For you do not know what evil may be upon the earth in the future.

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.

If the clouds have been filled, they will pour forth rain upon the earth. If a tree falls to the south, or to the north, or to whatever direction it may fall, there it shall remain.

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

Whoever heeds the wind will not sow. And whoever considers the clouds will never reap.

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.

In the same manner that you do not know the way of the spirit, nor the way that bones are joined together in the womb of a pregnant woman, so you do not know the works of God, who is the Maker of all.

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.

In the morning, sow your seed, and in the evening, do not let your hand cease. For you do not know which of these may rise up, the one or the other. But if both rise up together, so much the better.

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

Light is pleasant, and it is delightful for the eyes to see the sun.

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.

If a man lives for many years, and if he has rejoiced in all of these, he must remember the many days of the dark times, which, when they will have arrived, will accuse the past of vanity.

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.

So then, rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart remain in what is good during the days of your youth. And walk in the ways of your heart, and with the perception of your eyes. And know that, concerning all these things, God will bring you to judgment.

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

Remove anger from your heart, and set aside evil from your flesh. For youth and pleasure are empty.