< Ecclesiastes 11 >
1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
當將你的糧食撒在水面, 因為日久必能得着。
2 Give a portion to seven, yea, even unto eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
你要分給七人,或分給八人, 因為你不知道將來有甚麼災禍臨到地上。
3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if a tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there shall it be.
雲若滿了雨,就必傾倒在地上。 樹若向南倒,或向北倒, 樹倒在何處,就存在何處。
4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
看風的,必不撒種; 望雲的,必不收割。
5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the wind, [nor] how the bones [do grow] in the womb of her that is with child; even so thou knowest not the work of God who doeth all.
風從何道來,骨頭在懷孕婦人的胎中如何長成,你尚且不得知道;這樣,行萬事之上帝的作為,你更不得知道。
6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.
早晨要撒你的種,晚上也不要歇你的手,因為你不知道哪一樣發旺;或是早撒的,或是晚撒的,或是兩樣都好。
7 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.
光本是佳美的,眼見日光也是可悅的。
8 Yea, if a man live many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.
人活多年,就當快樂多年;然而也當想到黑暗的日子。因為這日子必多,所要來的都是虛空。
9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
少年人哪,你在幼年時當快樂。在幼年的日子,使你的心歡暢,行你心所願行的,看你眼所愛看的;卻要知道,為這一切的事,上帝必審問你。
10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for youth and the prime of life are vanity.
所以,你當從心中除掉愁煩,從肉體克去邪惡;因為一生的開端和幼年之時,都是虛空的。