Ecclesiastes 11

1 Cast thy bread-corn, upon the face of the waters, —for, after many days, shalt thou find it:

Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.

2 Give a portion to seven, yea even to eight, —for thou canst not know, what there shall be of misfortune, upon the earth.

Divide your portion among seven, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may befall the land.

3 If the clouds be filled with a downpour, upon the earth, will they empty themselves, and, if a tree fall in the south or in the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there will it be found.

If the clouds are full, they will pour out rain upon the earth; whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie.

4 He that observeth the wind, will not sow, —and, he that watcheth the clouds, will not reap.

He who watches the wind will fail to sow, and he who observes the clouds will fail to reap.

5 Just as thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, when the body is in the womb of her that is with child, even, so, canst thou not know the work of God, who maketh all.

As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones are formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

6 In the morning, sow thy seed, and, until evening, do not withhold thy hand, —for thou knowest not—whether shall thrive, either this or that, or whether, both alike, shall be fruitful.

Sow your seed in the morning, and do not rest your hands in the evening, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or if both will equally prosper.

7 Truly sweet is the light, —and, pleasant to the eyes, to see the sun:

Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.

8 But, though, many years, a man live, through them all, let him rejoice; yet let him remember the days of darkness, for many they may be, all that cometh, may be vanity.

So if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is futile.

9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart gladden thee in the days of thine early manhood, and walk thou—in the ways of thine own heart, and in that which is seen by thine own eyes, —yet know, that, for all these things, will God bring thee into judgment.

Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.

10 Therefore remove thou vexation from thy heart, and put away discomfort from thy flesh, —for, youth and dawn, are vanity!

So banish sorrow from your heart, and cast off pain from your body, for youth and vigor are fleeting.