11 Freely give your things to other people.
If you do that, one day you will receive your things back again.
2 Share your things with several other people.
You do not know when trouble will come.
Then those people can help you.
3 When clouds are full of water,
rain will fall on the earth.
If a tree falls to the ground,
it will stay there, in the same place.
4 A farmer who waits for the right wind
will never plant any seeds.
If he is always looking at the clouds,
he will never bring in his crops.
5 We do not know the path that the wind blows along.
Nor do we know how a baby's body grows
inside a pregnant woman.
So nobody can explain the things that God does.
He is the one who has made everything.
6 Plant your seeds in the morning,
and continue to work until the evening.
You do not know which seeds will become strong plants.
Perhaps only some of them will grow.
Perhaps they will all grow well.
7 Light makes people happy.
It is good to see the sun rise in the morning.
8 People may live for many years,
and they should happily enjoy every day.
But they should remember that their lives will end in death.
There will be many days of trouble ahead.
We cannot understand everything that will happen to us in the future.
9 Young people, enjoy your life while you are young.
Do the things that you think are good.
Enjoy the things that you see.
But remember that God will judge you
for all the things that you do.
10 Do not worry about things.
Do not let your body cause you to have pain.
You will not be young and strong for very long.
We all become old too quickly.
11 Do good wherever you go. [ a ] After a while, the good you do will come back to you.
2 Invest what you have in several different things. [ b ] You don’t know what bad things might happen on earth.
3 There are some things you can be sure of. If clouds are full of rain, they will pour water on the earth. If a tree falls—to the south or to the north—then it will stay where it falls.
4 But there are some things that you cannot be sure of. You must take a chance. If you wait for perfect weather, you will never plant your seeds. If you are afraid that every cloud will bring rain, you will never harvest your crops.
5 You don’t know where the wind blows. And you don’t know how a baby grows in its mother’s womb. In the same way, you don’t know what God will do—and he makes everything happen.
6 So begin planting early in the morning, and don’t stop working until evening. You don’t know what might make you rich. Maybe everything you do will be successful.
7 It is good to be alive. It is nice to see the light from the sun. 8 You should enjoy every day of your life, no matter how long you live. But remember that you will die, and you will be dead much longer than you were alive. And after you are dead, you cannot do anything.
9 So young people, enjoy yourselves while you are young. Be happy. Do whatever your heart leads you to do. Do whatever you want, but remember that God will judge you for everything you do. 10 Don’t let your anger control you, and don’t let your body lead you to sin. [ c ] People do foolish things in the dawn of life while they are young.
11 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.
4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.
6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.
7 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:
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.
9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.
11 ( A ) Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you ( B ) will find it [ a ] after many days. 2 ( C ) Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what ( D ) misfortune may occur on the earth. 3 If the clouds are full, they pour out rain on the earth; and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it [ b ] lies. 4 One who watches the wind will not sow and one who looks at the clouds will not harvest. 5 Just as you do not ( E ) know the path of the [ c ] wind, and ( F ) how bones are formed in the womb of the [ d ] pregnant woman, so you do not ( G ) know the activity of God who makes everything.
6 Sow your seed ( H ) in the morning and do not [ e ] be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether [ f ] one or the other will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.
7 The light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to ( I ) see the sun. 8 Indeed, if a person lives many years, let him ( J ) rejoice in them all; but let him remember the ( K ) days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come will be futility.
9 Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the [ g ] impulses of your heart and the [ h ] ( L ) desires of your eyes. Yet know that ( M ) God will bring you to judgment for all these things. 10 So remove [ i ] sorrow from your heart and keep [ j ] ( N ) pain away from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are [ k ] fleeting.
11 Ship ( A ) your grain across the sea;
after many days you may receive a return. ( B )
2 Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight;
you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.
3 If clouds are full of water,
they pour rain on the earth.
Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where it falls, there it will lie.
4 Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.
5 As you do not know the path of the wind, ( C )
or how the body is formed [ a ] in a mother’s womb, ( D )
so you cannot understand the work of God,
the Maker of all things.
6 Sow your seed in the morning,
and at evening let your hands not be idle, ( E )
for you do not know which will succeed,
whether this or that,
or whether both will do equally well.
7 Light is sweet,
and it pleases the eyes to see the sun. ( F )
8 However many years anyone may live,
let them enjoy them all.
But let them remember ( G ) the days of darkness,
for there will be many.
Everything to come is meaningless.
9 You who are young, be happy while you are young,
and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
God will bring you into judgment. ( H )
10 So then, banish anxiety ( I ) from your heart
and cast off the troubles of your body,
for youth and vigor are meaningless. ( J )
