1
Cast your bread a upon the waters,
b For you will find it after many days.
2
c Give a serving d to seven, and also to eight,
e For you do not know what evil will be on the earth.
3
If the clouds are full of rain,
They empty themselves upon the earth;
And if a tree falls to the south or the north,
In the place where the tree falls, there it shall lie.
4
He who observes the wind will not sow,
And he who regards the clouds will not reap.
5
As f you do not know what is the way of the 1 wind, 2
g Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child,
So you do not know the works of God who makes everything.
6
In the morning sow your seed,
And in the evening do not withhold your hand;
For you do not know which will prosper,
Either this or that,
Or whether both alike will be good.
7
Truly the light is sweet,
And it is pleasant for the eyes h to behold the sun;
8
But if a man lives many years
And i rejoices in them all,
Yet let him j remember the days of darkness,
For they will be many.
All that is coming is vanity.
9
Rejoice, O young man, in your youth,
And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth;
k Walk in the 3 ways of your heart,
And 4 in the sight of your eyes;
But know that for all these
l God will bring you into judgment.
10
Therefore remove 5 sorrow from your heart,
And m put away evil from your flesh,
n For childhood and 6 youth are vanity.