1 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 a 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 will not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds will not reap.

5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, how the bones {grow} in the womb of her that is with child, even so thou knowest not the work of God who maketh all.

6 In 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.

7 Now the light is sweet, and pleasant is it to the eyes to see 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, 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 that for all these {things} God will bring thee into judgment.

10 Then remove discontent from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh; for childhood and youth are vanity.