1 Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days. 2 Give a portion to seven and even to eight, for thou dost not know what evil shall come upon the earth. 3 If the clouds are full of rain, they shall empty themselves upon the earth; and if the tree falls toward the south or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it shall remain. 4 He that observes the wind shall not sow, and he that regards the clouds shall not reap.
5 As thou dost not know what is the way of the spirit nor how the bones grow in the womb of her that is with child, even so thou dost not know the works of God who makes all.
6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not which shall prosper, either this or that or whether they both shall be equally good.
7 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun,
8 but if a man lives many years and rejoices in them all; yet if afterwards he remembers the days of darkness, for they shall be many, he shall say that everything that shall have happened to him is vanity.
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 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart and put away evil from thy flesh; for childhood and youth are vanity.