1 C ast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days.

Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days.

2 D ivide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.

Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, For you do not know what evil will be on the earth.

3 I f the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth; and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it lies.

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 H e who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap.

He who observes the wind will not sow, And he who regards the clouds will not reap.

5 J ust as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things.

As you do not know what is the way of the wind, 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 S ow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.

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 T he light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.

Truly the light is sweet, And it is pleasant for the eyes to behold the sun;

8 I ndeed, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all, and let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come will be futility.

But if a man lives many years And rejoices in them all, Yet let him remember the days of darkness, For they will be many. All that is coming is vanity. Seek God in Early Life

9 R ejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things.

Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; Walk in the ways of your heart, And in the sight of your eyes; But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment.

10 S o, remove grief and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.

Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, And put away evil from your flesh, For childhood and youth are vanity.