Ecclesiastes 11

1 Send forth your bread upon the face of the water: for you shall find it after many days.

Cast your bread over running waters. For, after a long time, you shall find it again.

2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for you know not what evil there shall be upon the earth.

Give a portion to seven, and indeed even to eight. For you do not know what evil may be upon the earth in the future.

3 If the clouds be filled with rain, they pour [it] out upon the earth: and if a tree fall southward, or if it fall northward, in the place where the tree shall fall, there it shall be.

If the clouds have been filled, they will pour forth rain upon the earth. If a tree falls to the south, or to the north, or to whatever direction it may fall, there it shall remain.

4 He that observes the wind sows not; and he that looks at the clouds will not reap.

Whoever heeds the wind will not sow. And whoever considers the clouds will never reap.

5 Amongst whom none knows what is the way of the wind: as the bones [are hid] in the womb of a pregnant [woman], so you shall not know the works of God, [even] all things whatever he shall do.

In the same manner that you do not know the way of the spirit, nor the way that bones are joined together in the womb of a pregnant woman, so you do not know the works of God, who is the Maker of all.

6 In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening let not your hand be slack: for you know not what sort shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether both shall be good alike.

In the morning, sow your seed, and in the evening, do not let your hand cease. For you do not know which of these may rise up, the one or the other. But if both rise up together, so much the better.

7 Moreover the light is sweet, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.

Light is pleasant, and it is delightful for the eyes to see the sun.

8 For even if a man should live many years, [and] rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity.

If a man lives for many years, and if he has rejoiced in all of these, he must remember the many days of the dark times, which, when they will have arrived, will accuse the past of vanity.

9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth; and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart blameless, but not in the sight of your eyes: yet know that for all these things God will bring you into judgement.

So then, rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart remain in what is good during the days of your youth. And walk in the ways of your heart, and with the perception of your eyes. And know that, concerning all these things, God will bring you to judgment.

10 Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh: for youth and folly are vanity.

Remove anger from your heart, and set aside evil from your flesh. For youth and pleasure are empty.