Ecclesiastes 11

1 Cast your bread on the waters; for you shall find it after many days.

Send your bread out on the surface of the water, and many days later you will find it again.

2 Give a portion to seven, yes, even to eight; for you don’t know what evil will be on the earth.

Share what you own with seven or eight people, for you never know what disaster could happen.

3 If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth; and if a tree falls toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there shall it be.

When the clouds are full they pour rain down upon the earth. Whether a tree falls to the north or to the south, it stays where it fell.

4 He who observes the wind won’t sow; and he who regards the clouds won’t reap.

The farmer who pays attention to the direction of the wind knows when not to sow, and by watching the clouds knows when not to reap.

5 As you don’t know what is the way of the wind, nor how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child; even so you don’t know the work of God who does all.

Just as you don't know how the breath of life comes to the child in its mother's womb, so you can't understand the work of God, the Creator of everything.

6 In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening don’t withhold your hand; for you don’t know which will prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both will be equally good.

In the morning, sow your seed. In the evening, don't stop. For you have no way of knowing which crop will grow well—one may be profitable, or the other—or maybe both.

7 Truly the light is sweet, and it is a pleasant thing for the eyes to see the sun.

How sweet it is to live in the light, to see the sun rise on another day.

8 Yes, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity.

May you live for many years, and may you enjoy them all. But remember there will many days of darkness, and all that is to come is uncertain.

9 Rejoice, 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, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

Young people, enjoy your youth! Be happy with what's good! While you're young, let your mind guide your life, and do as you think best. But remember that God will judge you for all your thoughts and actions.

10 Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

So don't let your mind worry, and avoid things that hurt your body. Even so, despite youth and enthusiasm, life is still so hard to understand!