伝道者の書 11

1 汝の糧食を水の上に投げよ 多くの日の後に汝ふたたび之を得ん

Cast thy bread upon the running waters: for after a long time thou shalt find it again.

2 汝一箇の分を七また八にわかて 其は汝如何なる災害の地にあらんかを知ざればなり

Give a portion to seven, and also to eight: for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

3 雲もし雨の充るあれば地に注ぐ また樹もし南か北に倒るるあればその樹は倒れたる處にあるべし

If the clouds be full, they will pour out rain upon the earth. If the tree fall to the south, or to the north, in what place soever it shall fall, there shall it be.

4 風を伺ふ者は種播ことを得ず 雲を望む者は刈ことを得ず

He that observeth the wind, shall not sow: and he that considereth the clouds, shall never reap.

5 汝は風の道の如何なるを知ず また孕める婦の胎にて骨の如何に生長つを知ず 斯汝は萬事を爲たまふ神の作爲を知ことなし

As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones are joined together in the womb of her that is with child: so thou knowest not the works of God, who is the maker of all.

6 汝朝に種を播け 夕にも手を歇るなかれ 其はその實る者は此なるか彼なるか又は二者ともに美なるや汝これを知ざればなり

In the morning sow thy seed, and In the evening let not thy hand cease: for thou knowest not which may rather spring up, this or that: and if both together, it shall be the better.

7 夫光明は快き者なり 目に日を見るは樂し

The light is sweet, and it is delightful for the eyes to see the sun.

8 人多くの年生ながらへてその中凡て幸福なるもなほ幽暗の日を憶ふべきなり 其はその數も多かるべければなり 凡て來らんところの事は皆空なり

If a man live many years, and have rejoiced in them all, he must remember the darksome time, and the many days: which when they shall come, the things past shall be accused of vanity.

9 少者よ汝の少き時に快樂をなせ 汝の少き日に汝の心を悦ばしめ汝の心の道に歩み汝の目に見るところを爲せよ 但しその諸の行爲のために神汝を鞫きたまはんと知べし

Rejoice therefore, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart be in that which is good in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thy eyes: and know that for all these God will bring thee into judgment.

10 然ば汝の心より憂を去り 汝の身より惡き者を除け 少き時と壮なる時はともに空なればなり

Remove anger from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh. For youth and pleasure are vain.