Ecclesiastes 11

1Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days.

1Invest your resources in different places; after a long time, you will see a return on your investment.

2Give a portion to seven, yea, even unto eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

2Spread your investments among seven or even eight options, because you do not know what disasters might happen in the world.

3If 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 shall it be.

3When the clouds are full of water, they pour rain on the earth; whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, it stays right where it lands.

4He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

4If you wait for the perfect wind, you will never plant seeds; if you keep watching the clouds, you will never harvest anything.

5As thou knowest not what is the way of the wind, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child; even so thou knowest not the work of God who doeth all.

5Just as you do not understand the path of the wind or how a baby’s bones grow inside a mother, you cannot understand the work of God, who makes everything happen.

6In 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.

6Plant your seeds in the morning and keep working until the evening, because you do not know which of your efforts will succeed—maybe one will, or maybe both will be good.

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

7The light is wonderful, and it is a good thing for people to see the sun.

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

8If a person lives for many years, they should enjoy every one of them; but they should remember that there will be many dark days. Everything that happens is temporary.

9Rejoice, O 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 thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

9Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad. Follow your heart’s desires and whatever your eyes see; but remember that God will judge you for everything you do.

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

10So, drive away worry from your heart and keep your body from harm, for youth and the prime of life quickly fade away.