Ecclesiastes 11
1 mitte panem tuum super transeuntes aquas quia post multa tempora invenies illum
Cast thy bread-corn, upon the face of the waters, —for, after many days, shalt thou find it:
2 da partem septem necnon et octo quia ignoras quid futurum sit mali super terram
Give a portion to seven, yea even to eight, —for thou canst not know, what there shall be of misfortune, upon 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 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.
4 qui observat ventum non seminat et qui considerat nubes numquam metet
He that observeth the wind, will not sow, —and, he that watcheth the clouds, will not reap.
5 quomodo ignoras quae sit via spiritus et qua ratione conpingantur ossa in ventre praegnatis sic nescis opera Dei qui fabricator est omnium
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.
6 mane semina sementem tuam et vespere ne cesset manus tua quia nescis quid magis oriatur hoc an illud et si utrumque simul melius erit
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.
7 dulce lumen et delectabile est oculis videre solem
Truly sweet is the light, —and, pleasant to the eyes, to see the sun:
8 si annis multis vixerit homo et in omnibus his laetatus fuerit meminisse debet tenebrosi temporis et dierum multorum qui cum venerint vanitatis arguentur praeterita
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.
9 laetare ergo iuvenis in adulescentia 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
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.
10 aufer iram a corde tuo et amove malitiam a carne tua adulescentia enim et voluptas vana sunt
Therefore remove thou vexation from thy heart, and put away discomfort from thy flesh, —for, youth and dawn, are vanity!
