Ecclesiastes 11

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

把你的糧食拋到水面，多日後你必有所獲。

2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon 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 clouds are full of rain, they empty [themselves] upon the earth: and if the tree falleth towards the south, or towards the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.

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 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

觀察風向的，必不撒種；研究雲象的，必不收割，

5 As thou knowest not what [is] the way of the spirit, [nor] the structure of the parts of conception in her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

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 thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both [shall be] alike 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 Truly the light [is] sweet, and a pleasant [thing it is] for the eyes to behold the sun:

光明實在可愛，看見太陽實在令眼舒暢。

8 But if a man shall live many years, [and] rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh [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 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 thy eyes: but know thou, that for all these [things] God will bring thee 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 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth [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。