Ecclesiastes 11

1 Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt 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, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

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

3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth; and if a tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall 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 that observeth the wind will not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds will not 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 thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, how the bones [grow] in the womb of her that is with child, even so thou knowest not the work of God who maketh 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 thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand; for thou knowest not which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both shall be alike 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 Now the light is sweet, and pleasant is it to the eyes to see the sun;

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

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.

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 thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know that for all these [things] God will bring thee 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 Then remove discontent from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh; for childhood and youth 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!