傳道書 第 11 章

¹當將你的糧食撒在水面，因為日久必能得著。Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.

²你要分給七人，或分給八人，因為你不知道將來有甚麼災禍臨到地上。Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

³雲若滿了雨，就必傾倒在地上。樹若向南倒，或向北倒，樹倒在何處，就存在何處。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看風的，必不撒種；望雲的，必不收割。He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

⁵風從何道來，骨頭在懷孕婦人的胎中如何長成，你尚且不得知道；這樣，行萬事之神的作為，你更不得知道。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早晨要撒你的種，晚上也不要歇你的手，因為你不知道哪一樣發旺；或是早撒的，或是晚撒的，或是兩樣都好。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光本是佳美的，眼見日光也是可悅的。Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:

⁸人活多年，就當快樂多年；然而也當想到黑暗的日子。因為這日子必多，所要來的都是虛空。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少年人哪，你在幼年時當快樂。在幼年的日子，使你的心歡暢，行你心所願行的，看你眼所愛看的；卻要知道，為這一切的事，神必審問你。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所以，你當從心中除掉愁煩，從肉體克去邪惡；因為一生的開端和幼年之時，都是虛空的。Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.