Ecclesiastes, 11

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

1. Cast your bread on the water for after a given time you will find it again.

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

2. Share with seven or even with eight for you never know what misfortune may strike the earth.

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.

3. When clouds are heavy rain falls on the earth and when a tree falls facing south or north there in that place it will lie.

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

4. He who watches the wind will not sow and he who watches the clouds will not reap.

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.

5. Just as you do not know how the spirit pervades the members in the mother's womb, neither will you understand the work of God, creator of all things.

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.

6. Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle until the evening for you don't know whether one or the other will succeed. What if both prove to be good?

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

7. Light is pleasant and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.

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.

8. If a man lives for many years, let him rejoice in them all, thinking that dark days will be many and all that comes after will be meaningless.

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.

9. Rejoice, young man, in your youth and direct well your heart when you are young; follow your desires and achieve your ambitions but recall that God will take account of all you do.

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

10. Drive sorrow from your heart and pain from your flesh, for youth and dark hair will not last.