Eklezyas 11
1 Fè byen san gad dèyè. Yon lè konsa, w'a jwenn rekonpans ou.
Cast your bread on the waters; for you shall find it after many days.
2 Separe sa ou genyen ak mezi moun ou kapab, paske ou pa janm konnen ki malè ki ka rive ou sou latè.
Give a portion to seven, yes, even to eight; for you do not know what evil will be on the earth.
3 Depi nwaj yo plen dlo, se pou lapli tonbe sou latè. Lè yon pyebwa tonbe, kit li tonbe sou bò nò, kit li tonbe sou bò sid, kote l' tonbe a, se la pou li rete.
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.
4 Si w'ap gade sou van, ou p'ap janm plante. Si w'ap gade sou nwaj, ou p'ap janm ranmase rekòt.
He who observes the wind won't sow; and he who regards the clouds won't reap.
5 Menm jan ou pa konnen ni kote van an soti ni kote li prale, menm jan an tou ou pa konnen ki jan zo timoun fè fòme nan vant fanm ansent. Se konsa tou ou pa ka konprann travay Bondye, li menm ki fè tout bagay.
As you do not 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 do not know the work of God who does all.
6 Nan maten, plante jaden ou. Aswè rive, plante jaden ou ankò. Ou pa janm konnen kilès nan de yo ap bay plis rannman. Ou pa janm konnen si tou de p'ap pran, si tou de p'ap bay menm rannman.
In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not withhold your hand; for you do not know which will prosper, whether this or that, or whether they will both be equally good.
7 Ala bon bagay se fè klè! Sa bon nèt lè ou wè solèy.
Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to see the sun.
8 Di Bondye mèsi pou chak lanne li mete sou lavi ou. Ou te mèt viv lontan, pa bliye tan ou pral pase lè ou fin mouri a long anpil. Tou sa ki vin apre pa vo anyen.
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.
9 menm, jenn gason, pwofite jennès nou. Fè kè nou kontan pandan tout tan nou jenn gason toujou. Fè tou sa nou ta vle fè, tou sa nou anvi fè. Men pa bliye Bondye gen pou mande nou kont pou tou sa nou fè.
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.
10 Pa kite lapenn chita nan kè nou. Pa kite anyen fè nou soufri nan kò nou. Ou p'ap rete jenn gason ak cheve nwa tou tan.
Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
