Ecclesiastes 11
1 Mitte panem tuum super transeuntes aquas: quia post tempora multa invenies illum.
Put out your bread on the face of the waters; for after a long time it will come back to you again.
2 Da partes septem, necnon et octo: quia ignoras quid futurum sit mali super terram.
Give a part to seven or even to eight, because you have no knowledge of the evil which will be on the earth.
3 Si repletae fuerint nubes, imbrem super terram effundent. Si ceciderit lignum ad Austrum, aut ad Aquilonem, in quocumque loco ceciderit, ibi erit.
If the clouds are full of rain, they send it down on the earth; and if a tree comes down to the south, or the north, in whatever place it comes down, there it will be.
4 Qui observat ventum, non seminat: et qui considerat nubes, numquam metet.
He who is watching the wind will not get the seed planted, and he who is looking at the clouds will not get in the grain.
5 Quomodo ignoras quae sit via spiritus, et qua ratione compingantur ossa in ventre praegnantis; sic nescis opera Dei, qui fabricator est omnium.
As you have no knowledge of the way of the wind, or of the growth of the bones in the body of her who is with child, even so you have no knowledge of the works of God who has made 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 put your seed into the earth, and till the evening let not your hand be at rest; because you are not certain which will do well, this or that — or if the two will be equally good.
7 Dulce lumen, et delectabile est oculis videre solem.
Truly the light is sweet, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.
8 Si annis multis vixerit homo, et in his omnibus laetatus fuerit, meminisse debet tenebrosi temporis, et dierum multorum: qui cum venerint, vanitatis arguentur praeterita.
But even if a man's life is long and he has joy in all his years, let him keep in mind the dark days, because they will be great in number. Whatever may come is to no purpose.
9 Laetare ergo iuvenis in adolescentia tua, et in bono sit cor tuum in diebus iuventutis tuae, et ambula in viis cordis tui, et in intuitu oculorum tuorum: et scito quod pro omnibus his adducet te Deus in iudicium.
Have joy, O young man, while you are young; and let your heart be glad in the days of your strength, and go in the ways of your heart, and in the desire of your eyes; but be certain that for all these things God will be your judge.
10 Aufer iram a corde tuo, et amove malitiam a carne tua. Adolescentia enim et voluptas vana sunt.
So put away trouble from your heart, and sorrow from your flesh; because the early years and the best years are to no purpose.
