< Ecclesiastes 11 >
1 Mitte panem tuum super transeuntes aquas: quia post tempora multa invenies illum.
Cast thy bread upon the running waters: for after a long time thou shalt find it again.
2 Da partem septem, necnon et octo: quia ignoras quid futurum sit mali super terram.
Give a portion to seven, and also to eight: for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
3 Si repletæ fuerint nubes, imbrem super terram effundent. Si ceciderit lignum ad Austrum, aut ad Aquilonem, in quocumque loco ceciderit, ibi erit.
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 Qui observat ventum, non seminat: et qui considerat nubes, numquam metet.
He that observeth the wind, shall not sow: and he that considereth the clouds, shall never reap.
5 Quomodo ignoras quæ sit via spiritus, et qua ratione compingantur ossa in ventre prægnantis; sic nescis opera Dei, qui fabricator est omnium.
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 Mane semina semen tuum, et vespere ne cesset manus tua: quia nescis quid magis oriatur, hoc aut illud: et si utrumque simul, melius erit.
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 Dulce lumen, et delectabile est oculis videre solem.
The light is sweet, and it is delightful for the eyes to see the sun.
8 Si annis multis vixerit homo, et in his omnibus lætatus fuerit, meminisse debet tenebrosi temporis, et dierum multorum: qui cum venerint, vanitatis arguentur præterita.
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 Lætare ergo iuvenis in adolescentia tua, et in bono sit cor tuum in diebus iuventutis tuæ, et ambula in viis cordis tui, et in intuitu oculorum tuorum: et scito quod pro omnibus his adducet te Deus in iudicium.
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 Aufer iram a corde tuo, et amove malitiam a carne tua. Adolescentia enim et voluptas vana sunt.
Remove anger from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh. For youth and pleasure are vain.