Predikaren 11
1 Låt ditt bröd fara öfver vatten, så varder du det finnandes i längdene.
Give generously to others [some of] the money [MET] that you have; if you do that, later you will get back an equal amount.
2 Skift ut emellan sju, ock emellan åtta; ty du vetst icke, hvad olycka på jordene komma kan.
Share some of what you have with (seven or eight/several) [others], because you do not know when you will experience a disaster, [and if you give some of what you have to others], [when you experience that disaster, they will kindly help you].
3 När molnskyarna fulle äro, så gifva de regn på jordena; och när trät faller, det falle söderut, eller norrut, på hvilket rum det faller, der blifver det liggandes.
[It is always true that] when clouds are full of water, they pour rain on the earth. [Similarly], wherever a tree falls on the ground, that is where it will remain.
4 Den som aktar på vädret, han sår intet, och den som uppå skyarna skådar, han skär intet upp.
If farmers see in what direction the wind is blowing, they will know whether it is wise at that time to plant things or not. [It is also true that] if farmers look at the clouds [and see that they are blowing from the west, which means that it will probably rain, ] they will not [try to] harvest their crops on that day.
5 Såsom du icke vetst vädrens väg, och huru benen i moderlifvet tillredd varda, så kan du ock icke veta Guds verk, som han allt gör.
We do not know where the wind comes from or where it goes, and we do not know how bodies are formed in women’s wombs. Similarly [SIM], God is the one who made everything, and we cannot [fully] understand what God does.
6 Så dina säd om morgonen, och håll icke upp med dine hand om aftonen; ty du vetst icke, hvilketdera bättre lyckas kan; och om både lyckades, så vore det dess bättre.
[Start] planting your seeds in the morning, and do not stop planting them until the evening, because you do not know which ones will grow better, the ones you plant in the morning or the ones you plant later in the day, or whether both will grow well.
7 Ljuset är sött, och ögonen är ljuft att se solena.
It is very delightful to be alive and see [MTY] the sun [rise every morning].
8 Om en menniska i lång tid lefver, och är glad i all ting, så tänker han dock allenast på de onda dagar, att de så månge äro; ty allt det honom vederfars, är fåfängelighet.
[Even] if people live for many years, they should enjoy all of them. But they should not forget that [some day they will die] and then they will never be able to see any light again, and we do not know what will happen to us after we die.
9 Så gläd dig nu, du yngling, i dinom ungdom, och låt ditt hjerta vara gladt i dinom ungdom; gör hvad dino hjerta lyster, och dinom ögom behagar; och vet, att Gud skall, för allt detta, hafva dig fram för domen.
You young people, be happy while you are still young. Enjoy [IDM] doing the things that you want to do. But do not forget that [some day] God will judge you concerning all the things that you do.
10 Lägg bort sorg utaf ditt hjerta, och kasta bort det onda ifrå dinom kropp; ty barndom och ungdom är fåfängelighet.
[So when you are young] [MTY], do not worry about anything, and do not pay attention to the pains that you have in your body, because we will not remain young and strong forever.
