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 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.

1 要把你的粮食撒在水面上， 因为日久你必得回。

2 你要分为七份， 或分为八份， 因为你不知道将来会有什么灾祸在地上发生。

3 云若充满水气， 雨就倾倒在地上； 树无论向南倒， 或向北倒， 倒在哪里， 就横在哪里。

4 看风的， 不撒种； 观云的， 不收割。

5 你不晓得风的路向， 不知道骨头如何在孕妇胎中形成， 照样， 创造万物之 神的作为， 你也不得而知。

6 早晨要撒你的种， 直到黄昏也不要歇手； 因为你不知道哪一样种得成， 是早撒的， 或晚撒的， 或两者都一样好。

7 光是美好的， 眼睛得见天日， 也是好的。

8 人无论多长寿， 都当乐在其中， 不过他要想到黑暗的日子， 因为这些日子将会很多； 要来的， 都是虚空的。

9 年轻人哪！ 你在幼年时要快乐， 在壮年的日子， 要使你的心欢畅； 顺着你心所愿的， 眼所见的去行。不过， 你要知道， 为了这一切事， 神必审问你。

10 所以你当除掉心中的烦恼， 除去肉体的疾苦， 因为无论是幼年或是壮年， 都是虚空的。