Ecclesiastes, 11

1. Cast your bread on the water, eventually you will recover it.

1. Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.

2. Offer a share to seven or to eight people, you can never tell what disaster may occur.

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

3. When clouds are full of rain, they will shed it on the earth. If a tree falls, whether south or north, where it falls, there it will lie.

3. If the clouds be full of rain, they empty [themselves] upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.

4. Keep watching the wind and you will never sow, keep staring at the clouds and you will never reap.

4. He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

5. You do not understand how the wind blows, or how the embryo grows in a woman's womb: no more can you understand the work of God, the Creator of all.

5. As thou knowest not what [is] the way of the spirit, [nor] how the bones [do grow] in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

6. In the morning, sow your seed, until evening, do not cease from labour, for of any two things you do not know which will succeed, or which of the two is the better.

6. In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both [shall be] alike good.

7. How sweet light is, how delightful it is to see the sun!

7. Truly the light [is] sweet, and a pleasant [thing it is] for the eyes to behold the sun:

8. However many years you live, enjoy them all, but remember, the days of darkness will be many: futility awaits you at the end.

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

9. Young man, enjoy yourself while you are young, make the most of the days of your youth, follow the prompting and desire of heart and eye, but remember, God will call you to account for everything.

9. Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these [things] God will bring thee into judgment.

10. Rid your heart of indignation, keep your body clear of suffering, though youth and the age of black hair are both futile.

10. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth [are] vanity.