Ecclesiastes 11

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

Cast thy bread upon the waters; for after many days thou shalt find it.

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

Give a portion to seven, yea, to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

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.

When the clouds are full of rain, they empty upon the earth; and when a tree falleth to the south or the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.

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

He that watcheth the wind will not sow, and he that gazeth upon the clouds will not 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 thou knowest not the way of the wind, nor how the bones are formed in the womb of her that is with child, so thou canst not know the work of God, who doeth 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.

In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand! For thou knowest not whether this shall prosper, or that, or whether both of them shall be alike good.

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

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

Yea, though a man live many years, let him rejoice in them all, and let him think of the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.

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, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes! but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

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

Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy body! for childhood and youth are vanity.